THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

The following morning, before dawn, they left Gao for Fort-Lamy, flying over the Niger River for 170 miles then crossing endless stretches of barren desert land to Zinder.  There below lay spread out the broad valley of the Yobe River with its long brown tendrils and sprawling swamps.  Now in the shifting pattern of land and water, for as far as her eyes could see, Amelia watched Lake Chad come into full view.  She ran her eye over the shining surface but was unable to find any shore lines.  Islands in the great lake had in outline the shapes of fantastic creatures of storyland, with large fat paws and broad flattened heads.

Briand/Daughter, 1960