CHAP. XX. 
THE WATER SPIRIT. 
175 
might depict her. Her back was straight, but beyond 
that there was not another straight line in the whole 
of her composition—it was all bulges, curves, hollows,' 
and dimples. 
On this summer-day nearly all the women and 
lasses were bathing and washing their clothes in the 
river, at a flat rocky ford, with a large expanse of clear, 
smooth water above it. While the not fair but yellow 
beauties were splashing about just within and beyond 
their depth there was a cry of the 4 Water Spirit! 5 and 
as they said, on their looking up this 4 sea-cow-hole,’ 
or expanse of water, they saw the spirit walking on 
the surface of the water! 
Now, this Water Spirit is said to be the most 
beautiful diminutive female form that it is possible 
to imagine. In stature the spirit is not above two feet 
six inches high, but the proportions are perfect, the face 
and features lovely, and the eyes and hair exquisite ; 
and she walks on the surface of the water, with her 
long hair trailing on it. The alarm on seeing the spirit 
was so great that all the native ladies rushed out 
of the water splashing and screaming in a terrible 
manner; and in these African climes the simple 
Eves do not use bathing-dresses, but wear only nature’s 
garb. However, outside the water they are more 
modest; but the fright was so great that, without 
dressing, the greater number snatched up their garments 
