112 THE LAKE KEGIONS OF CEtfTEAL AFEICA. 



called upon " Haji Abdullah " for assistance, to which 

 he had replied " My power does not extend here ! fi Thus 

 heartlessly refused aid by the only person who could 

 and should have afforded it, they were reduced, sorely 

 against their will, to take leave of him. Their tale was 

 of course believed by their comrades, till the crews 

 brought back the other version of the affair, the " camel- 

 hearts " then once more became the laugh and jibe of 

 man and woman. 



After a short consultation amongst the men concern- 

 ing the threatening aspect of the heavens, it was agreed 

 by them to defer crossing the Lake till the next day. 

 We therefore passed on to the northern side of the 

 point which limits the bay of Wafanya, and anchoring 

 the craft in a rushy bayou, we pitched tents in time to 

 protect us against a violent thunderstorm with its 

 wind and rain. 



On the 19th April we stretched westward, towards 

 Ubwari, which appeared a long strip of green directly 

 opposite Urundi, and distant from eighteen to twenty 

 miles. A little wind caused a heavy chopping swell ; 

 we were wet to the skin, and as noon drew nigh, the sun 

 shone stingingly, reflected by a mirrory sea. At 10 a.m. 

 the party drew in their paddles and halted to eat 

 and smoke. About 2 p.m. the wind and waves again 

 arose, — once more we were drenched, and the frail 

 craft was constantly baled out to prevent water-logging. 

 A long row of nine hours placed the canoes at a road- 

 stead, with the usual narrow line of yellow sand, on the 

 western coast of Ubwari Island. The men landed to 

 dry themselves, and to cook some putrid fish which they 

 had caught as it floated past the canoe, with the reed 

 triangle that buoyed up the net. It was " strong 

 meat" to us, but to them its staleness was as the " taste 

 in his butter," to the Londoner, the pleasing toughness 



