334 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XXXI. 
on his pony ; nothing but his head and his gun were 
to be seen for a time. But it was worth while 
to reach the spot which we thus attained at the widest 
creek of the lake as yet seen by me, — a fine open sheet 
of water, the surface of which, agitated by a light 
east wind, threw its waves upon the shore. All 
around was one forest of reeds of every description, 
while the water itself was covered with water-plants, 
chiefly the water-lily or Nymphcea lotus. Numberless 
flocks of waterfowl of every description played about. 
The creek has an angular form ; and its recess, which 
makes a deep indentation from E. 30 N. to W. 30 S., 
is named Nghelle. 
Having made our way through the water and 
rushes, and at length got again on firm ground, we 
made a momentary halt to consider what next to do. 
Haj Beshir had taught me to hope that it would 
be possible to reach on horseback the island Soyu- 
rum*. which extends a long way into the lake, and 
whence I might have an extensive view over the Kiilu 
kerne and many of the islands ; but my companions 
were unanimously of opinion that the depth of the 
water to be crossed for many miles exceeded the height 
of my horse ; and although I was quite ready to ex- 
pose myself to more wetting, in order to see a greater 
portion of this most interesting feature of Central 
Africa, I nevertheless did not think it worth while to 
ride a whole day through deep water, particularly as in 
* Mr. Overweg writes Seurum. 
