98 



THE DISCOVERY OF LAKE RUDOLF 



and thirst, wlien we remembered that the same conditions were 

 pretty sure to prevail till we reached Eeshiat. We had pro- 

 visions for ten days only ; and when we subjected Lembasso 

 to a searching cross-examination as to how we could improve 

 our position, and how long it would take us to get to this 

 Eeshiat, his unchanging reply was fifteen days. He also said 

 that Mount Kulall was inhabited, but that the people there 

 were themselves suffering from famine, and that the wretched 

 Elmolo, living by the lake, supported themselves entirely by 

 fishing. 



Fishing ! "We had never thought of that ; and immediately 

 lines and rods of every size and variety were got out and vdis- 

 tributed to the men. But hour after hour passed by, and 

 nothing was caught. 



Throughout this terrible day one trouble, one disappoint- 

 ment succeeded another, until at last the sun went down, when 

 our position became a little more tolerable. The parching 

 heat was replaced by a tepid coolness ; the wind blew less 

 strongly, and finally sunk altogether, whilst the sand-storms 

 ceased. A bath in the clear lake refreshed us, and later we 

 actually managed to quench our burning thirst with its water. 

 From the first it had struck us that this water had a quite 

 peculiar lye-like taste. We concluded that it contained soda, 

 which proved correct, for when we poured tartaric acid into 

 some of it, it effervesced strongly. This improved the taste 

 considerably, and it quenched our thirst more quickly than 

 fresh water would have done. 



Sunset was succeeded by a beautiful night ; the canopy of 

 heaven was spread out clear and bright above our heads, 

 gleaming with twinkling stars, and the veil of night hid the 

 dreary surroundings from our sight. Our men began to pick 

 up heart again, and sat chatting or cooking round their fires, 

 whilst we discussed the chances of the future with Jumbe 



