THE PASSAGE OF LAKE CHAD 95 



of the last three montlis vanished Hke the encumbrances 

 of a dream and I seemed at last in reach of beholding 



THE KACHELLA'S WIFE 



the sight so long denied of a Buduma town. The news was 

 received with glee by the " boys," who laughed and sent the 

 boats along with a splendid spurt in spite of the over-weight 

 of men they were now carrying. They invited the Budumas 

 to lend a hand with the poles, but those fine gentlemen pro- 

 tested that they could not so demean themselves. After a 

 short time the Kachella became communicative and gave 

 me names for aU the islands as I sketched them on my map. 

 During our mid-day halt for " chop " the Budumas 



