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peduncles were frequent. Here also occasional Habenarias, 
singly or in little groups, the best being H. praestans, with 
ciliated lip. A Rubus, with huge yellow fruits, nestled in one 
rock group, but did not appear again. Usually any species 
of this genus is so abundant in any region it occurs, the seeds 
being dispersed everywhere by the biras. Again, a finer day 
might have disclosed quantities of it. A tiny inconspicuous 
Sisyrinchium grows in the path and was in flower. The Heli- 
chrysums, so dense everywhere, were less advanced than 
those at the Bamboo Camp. An acaulescent Composite with 
bright yellow flowers was dotted all over one stretch, the under 
side of the green leaves covered with white tomentum. The 
scramble up the boulder strewn summit, where we recorded 
our visit in the jar at the cairn, just about finished the interest 
of the day. Sleet fell up there and whitened the ground in 
places where it lodged. Below timber line on the way down 
the going was very soft. A species of Rhus, 25-40 ft. high 
grows here, with long pendant panicles, the ferruginous red 
of the dead leaves contrasting well with the pale green of the 
living. Not seen on the way up, a species of Gentianaceae with 
dull purple flowers was found here, the undergrowth being 
studded by a pretty pink Impatiens, a foot in height. Few 
epiphytic orchids were encountered, one Angraecum, a Listro- 
stachys with small orange-red flowers and three species of 
Polystachya ; and these not abundantly. Next day, the 25th, 
we returned from the Bamboo Camp to Budadiri, a long downhill 
march by the same route traversed two days previously. The 
morning was gloriously fine and camp was reached at 11.30. 
The day following we returned to Mbale, cycling wherever 
possible. At one place some six miles from our destination 
the knee-high grass was studded by a tall herbaceous plant with 
handsome white flowers, one of the most ornamental of the 
wild flowers of Uganda. At any point of the road, fine views of 
the immense cliffs of Elgon, could be obtained by looking back 
until nearing Mbale, when they are shut off by the grey forest- 
crowned mass of Nkokenjira, the westernmost bastion of Elgon, 
which hides from view at that station nearly the whole of the 
mountain, except the spurs to the northward. It may not be 
fair to draw inferences from so short and hurried a visit, though 
comparison is only natural. My impression is that the flora 
of the American Cordilleras at near the same elevation and 
latitude, is incomparably richer and more attractive; of the 
epiphytes this is overwhelmingly true. What renders comparison 
of the two floras so fascinating, is the production, under almost 
identical climatic conditions, of similar types in widely divergent 
families, especially in those of xerophytic forms. 
For this delightful trip, marred only by the unfortunate 
weather prevailing at the summit, my warmest thanks are due 
ie my fellow traveller, who made the journey possible and ensured 
its success, 
