But notwithstanding this fact, he was a most active, diligent, and efficient officer, while he served upon the lakes; so that it was the wish of Sir Edward Owen that the acting order which he had given him should be confirmed by the Board of Admiralty; and for this end Clapperton sent it to his uncle in London; but as the Board of Admiralty had just promoted a great number of naval officers, they refused to confirm his commission at that time. It was the feeling of disappointment arising from this refusal which made him form the design of permanently connecting himself with the Indians. When he went on shore to visit his friends among these tribes, he did not always order a boat to be in attendance upon him to bring him on board; but when he regarded it as time to return, he used to plunge into the water with his clothes on, swim along side of the schooner, and hail the people on board to take him up. This rash mode of proceeding, however, nearly cost him his life; for on one occasion he encountered a strong current which bore him away from his own schooner, the Confiance; and it was with difficulty he could make himself be heard, as in distress, and unable to bear up against the stream, by the men on board the schooner commanded by Lieutenant Adam Gordon, who sent a boat to fetch him on board. This adventure put an end to the exploits of swimming to and from the vessel, when he had occasion to be on shore. While he served on the lakes, he was distinguished by another singular practice. In the midst of winter he was in the habit of causing the ice to be broken daily for the purpose of making an opening in which he might bathe. He used to say, he felt a shock when he first plunged into the cold water, but that this was followed by a pleasant glow. The place which was broken in the ice, for the indulgence of this luxury, was with great propriety designated “Clapperton’s bath,” as no one else chose to participate with him in this species of pleasure. Yet amidst all these singularities he never neglected his duty as an officer; he loved to keep the sailors upon the alert; and when he _rowed guard_, he delighted to surprise the sentinels.