THE CENTRAL PROVINCE 



51 



Prominent amongst these are the sunflowers (^Coreopsis), which cause certain 

 hillsides to blaze with yellow. 



North of the Nzoia (or Nzeia) Kiver the Kavirondo villages assume a 

 different appearance right up the southern slopes of Elgon inio a country 

 inhabited bv a branch of the Nandi stock. In place of the flowering 

 hedge of luxuriant vegetation, there is a deep moat surmounted bv a clay 

 wall which encircles tlie village, and this clay wall is rudely arched in the 

 gateway. The village itself resembles more in appearance those of the 

 Muhammadan .Sudan, especially in the direction of Hausaland. 



The southern foot-hills of Blount Elgon contain rich forest in the 



42. WALL OF CAVE-HOUSE 



river valleys, a forest of a tropical character in spite of the altitude, 

 which may reach to over 6,000 feet. Notable es|)ecially are the dracjenas 

 (an enormous tree-lily, the foliage of which looks like a bundle of sharp 

 green weapons arranged as a trophy) and the albizzias. The albizzia is 

 related to the acacia, and is a very loity tree with pinnated foliage in dense 

 masses, exactly like dark green velvet, and with an inflorescence on its 

 upper surface greenish gold in colour. At altitudes of 6,000 feet there is 

 a beautiful large white balsam growing in shady places. At 7,000 and 

 8,000 feet on the ridges of Elgon the ground is often covered with a wild 

 white pelargonium which, except for the colour, resembles exactly its near 

 allv, our so-called scarlet "geranium." But the white balsam, with flowers 



