Reichard, Paul

"Shortly before sunrise next to Kirandu at the east shore of Lake Tanganika in former German East Africa. Kirundo is located behind the dark mountain on the left-hand side, I painted the picture as a water colour from one of the small islands in the lake next to the shore. From here, Arabian traders used to cross the lake on boats like the one to be seen in the foreground. The lake is wonderful, about 600 km long and 40-60 km wide. It is up to 900 metres deep… The water has the deep dark blue shade of the Indian Ocean… In it there are large numbers of fish, hippopotamus and crocodiles, one of which caught one of our people who had swum in the lake despite all our warnings. Paul Reichard" (translation of autograph note on verso).