hat we should build a pen in which to confine
them till we were ready to sail.

We set to work at once, having in the meantime secured ropes round their
bodies, and tethered them to sticks; and before night we had put up a
pen of sufficient size to contain as many as we were likely to catch.
As they cannot climb, the palings were of no great height; while, as the
creatures require a good-sized hole to get through, we were able to put
the stakes some distance apart. We at once turned in our tortoises, and
gave them various fruits, all of which they ate willingly.

The tortoises made us think of turtle. Though turtle flesh is not
considered by many people to equal that of the tortoise, it was very
desirable that we should obtain some, as they also can be preserved a
long time on board ship.

It was now about the time when they come on shore to lay their eggs, so
we agreed to make an excursion along the borders of the lake, in the
hope of finding some sandy beach which they might have chosen for that
object. As it was a matter of importance, Uncle Paul determined to go
himself on the smaller raft, taking Sambo, Kallolo, and me with him. We
started at daybreak, provisioned for three days; but as Kallolo carried
his blowpipe, and we our bows and arrows, with our long pointed sticks
for spears, and some fishing-lines, we could obtain more food should we
require it.

We kept along the western shore of the lake towards the north, passing
on our way several inlets, which led, we had no doubt, to other lakes in
the interior, similar to the one in which we had caught the jacana.
After we had gone some distance, no sandy beach appearing in which
turtle were likely to lay their eggs, we began to despair of obtaining
our object. Still Uncle Paul determined to go further. He expressed
his regret that we had not built a canoe in the first instance. We
might then have navigated the shores of the lake to a considerable
distance; and it would also have served us far better than the raft for
fishing. However, as it would have occupied not only our time, but
engaged the tools which were required for building the vessel, it had
not been considered advisable to attempt the construction of one.

The wind being from the south, we glided calmly on before it.
Sometimes, when the wind was fresh, we made good way; at others, when it
fell, we had again to take to our paddles.

We were thus moving forward, when Kallolo espied an object