“You are brave fellows; pull, my sons; think of those poor men in the lake in sinking canoes.” Responding to my prayers, the crew almost cracked their hearts in the mighty efforts they made; their quick-swaying figures, the deep sighs which burst from their breasts, the careering boat, the excited helmsman, everything sympathized with me. I seized one of the oars myself to relieve a lad, and to assist the force which now dashed the boat over the water. She seemed instinct with life. We now heard the cries for aid, “Oh, the boat! Master, bring the boat!” come once more pealing over the golden lake from the foundering canoes. “Do you hear, men? break the oars—lift the boat over the water. We will save them yet. It is to-night or never!” With fresh force she bounded upward. Every fibre of our straining bodies and the full strength of our energies were roused, and in five minutes we ran alongside first one canoe, then a second and a third—until again the boat was down in the water to within an inch of her gunwale. But all the people—men, women, and children—were saved. The light material of which the canoes were constructed had sufficed to float the loads that were in them. We rested until help should arrive, and presently Uledi’s and Shumari’s canoes were seen advancing side by side, with lines of pale foam flashing from each bow, as they were driven with the force of strong men towards us. With loud, glad cries they stopped their furious career alongside, and the first words they uttered were, “Are all safe?” “Yes, all,” we replied. “El hamd-ul’-illah!” (“Thanks be to God!”), they answered fervently. With the aid of these two canoes we were able to return to the islets with the thirty-two men, women, and children, and the entire property safe. Our loss during this fearful night was five canoes, five guns, one case of ammunition, and twelve hundred pounds of grain. _June 21._—The next morning, leaving a third of the party and goods at Miandereh, we departed for Singo, which we reached at 9 A.M. A few canoes were then hastened back to Miandereh for the remainder.