60 



THE CENTRAL PROVINCE 



of bananas and native cereals. The landscapes to be seen from this 

 northern face of Elgon are of remarkable beauty. Perched on charming 

 ledges of neatly cultivated ground, surrounded by the glistening thatched 

 houses — the roofs reaching almost down to the ground — of the Sabei tribe, 

 one gazes across vast green prairies and blue-green swamps to distant 

 lakes that are sheets of silver in the sunshine. Beyond these lakes are 

 mountains of splendid shape, bulks of pure pale blue, touched here and 

 there with faint sunlight revelations of pinkish grey and whitish emerald. 



51. THE JACK80N-e;Kl)(;i-; KXl'KIUTIUN OX THE TOP OK MOUNT ELGON 



Down this northern face of Elgon pour cascades like those which adorn 

 the western and southern flanks. The roar of water is seldom absent from 

 one's hearing. With the aid of these cascades Elgon might (in additiou 

 to its fertile soil, paucity of native inhabitants, and absolutely healthy 

 climate) some day become the seat of a most powerful industrial com- 

 munity of Europeans, who would be able here to generate electricity 

 which could subserve half East Africa. 



The eastern aspect of Elgon differs from the other sides of the 

 mountain in being much less rich in vegetation, and in having a less 

 abundant rainfall. There is forest in stream vallevs sometimes, but more 



