346 
STORM ON THE LAKE. 
[chai\ XII. 
although the mornings were calm, a strong wind gene¬ 
rally arose at 1 p.m. from S. W. that brought a heavy 
sea upon the beach. I was now afraid that we should 
be subject to a gale before we could rea'ch the opposite 
headland, as the rising swell betokened wind from the 
old quarter, especially as dark thunder clouds were 
gathering on the western shore. 
I told Bacheeta to urge the rowers forward, as our 
heavy canoe would certainly be swamped in the event 
of a gale. I looked at my watch : it was past noon, 
and I felt sure that we should catch a south-wester by 
about one o’clock. My men looked rather green at 
the ominous black clouds and the increasing swell, but 
exclaimed, “Inshallah, there will be no wind.” With 
due deference to their faith in predestination, I insisted 
upon their working the spare paddles, as our safety 
depended upon reaching the shore before the approach¬ 
ing storm. They had learnt to believe in my opinion, 
and they exerted themselves to their utmost. The old 
boat rushed through the water, but the surface of the 
lake was rapidly changing ; the western shore was no 
longer visible, the water was dark, and innumerable 
white crests tipped the waves. The canoe laboured 
heavily, and occasionally shipped water, which was 
immediately baled out with gourd-sliells by my men, 
who now exclaimed, “ Wah Illahi el kalam betar el 
Hawaga sahhe!” (by Allah, what the Hawaga says is 
true!) We were within about a mile and a half of 
the point for which we had been steering, when we 
could no longer keep our course; we had shipped 
several heavy seas, and had we not been well supplied 
with utensils for baling, we should have been swamped. 
Several bursts of thunder and vivid lightning were 
followed by a tremendous gale from about the W.S.W. 
before which we were obliged to run for the shore. 
In a short space of time a most dangerous sea arose, 
and on several occasions the waves broke against the 
arched covering of the canoe, which happily protected 
her in a slight degree, although we were drenched with 
