Chap. XXXT. ACCOUNT OF THE LAKE. 
331 
sisting in a leathern apron and a string of white beads 
round the neck, which, together with their white teeth, 
produces a beautiful contrast with the jet-black skin. 
They gave me the first account of the islands of the 
lake, stating that the open water, which in their lan- 
guage is called " Kalilemma," or rather Kulu kerne, 
begins one day's voyage from Kaya, the small harbour 
of Maduwari, stretching in the direction of Shawi, and 
that the water is thenceforth from one to two fathoms 
deep. I invariably understood from all the people 
with whom I spoke about this interesting lake, that 
the open water, with its islands of elevated sandy 
downs, stretches from the mouth of the Shary towards 
the western shore, and that all the rest of the lake 
consists of swampy meadow-lands, occasionally inun- 
dated. I shall have occasion to speak again about 
this point when briefly reporting my unfortunate com- 
panion's voyage on the lake.* 
* The Yedina named to me the following islands as the largest 
and most important: — Guriya, Yiwaa Doji, Belarge, Hushiya 
Billan, Purram, Maibuluwa, Fidda, Kollea Dallaborme, Turbo Dak- 
kabelaya, Fujia Chilim, and Brejare, the latter having many horses. 
Almost all these names have been since confirmed by Mr. Over- 
weg, although he spells some of them in a different way, and per- 
haps less accurately, as he obtained all his information from 
his Kanuri companions ; indeed, notwithstanding his long sojourn 
among the islanders, he did not even learn their real name, viz. 
Yedina. The Yedina belong evidently to the Kotoko, and are 
most nearly related to the people of Nghala ; they are probably 
already indicated by Makrizi under the name UxjI and their lan- 
guage was originally entirely distinct from the Kanuri, although in 
process of time they have adopted many of their terms. 
