tribe, and their names were Uledi and Shumari;
the former about twenty-five years old, the latter
eighteen.
A s I was returning with my boat to the scene,
two canoes passed me like arrows. “Who g o
there?” I demanded.
Uledi and Shumari’s canoes,” replied somebody.
Return instantly, after unloading, to save the
people.”
“ It is what we intend to do, Inshallah!” answered
a voice.
“ Fine fellows those, I warrant them,” I thought.
Their v e ry action and tone reveal their brave
spirits.”
A w a y we flew to the rescue, blowing the
bugle to announce our approach. W e passed
three or four canoes, racing b y us to the islets.
Thank Heaven, the lake was calm, and the moon
shone clear and strong, casting a golden light
upon the waters.
“ Y o u are brave fellows; pull, my sons; think
o f those p o o r men in the lake in sinking canoes.”
Responding to my prayers, the crew almost
cracked their hearts in the mighty efforts they
made; fheir quick-swaying figures, the deep sighs
which burst from their breasts, the careering
b o a t, the excited helmsman, everything sympathized
with me. I seized one o f the oars
myse lf to relieve a lad, and to assist the force
fju n e 20-21,1875.]
[ Miandereh. J ALL SAVED. 27
which now dashed the boat over the water.
She seemed instinct with life.
We now heard the cries for aid, “ O h , the
boat! Master, bring the b o a t!” come once more
pealing over the golden lake from the foundering
canoes.
“ Do yo u hear, men? break the oars— lift the
boat over the water. W e will save them yet.
It is to-night or never!”
With fresh force she bounded upward. E ve ry
fibre o f our straining bodies and the full strength
o f 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 o f her gunwale.
But all the people, men, women, and children,
were saved. T he light material o f which the
canoes were constructed had sufficed to float
the loads that were in them.
W e rested until help should arrive, and presently
Uledi’s and Shumari’s canoes were seen advancing
side b y side, with lines o f pale foam flashing
from each b ow , as th ey were driven with
the force o f strong men towards us. W ith loud,
glad cries th e y stopped their furious career alongside,
and the first words they uttered were, “ A r e
all safe?”
“ Yes, all,” we replied.
“ E l hamd-ul’-illah!” (“ Thanks be to G o d ! ” )
they answered fervently.