Lake Victoria to Khartoum 



slightly higher ground form occasional small 

 islands. They are thickly covered by low 

 mimosas, and many of them are crowned with 

 groups of gneiss blocks some ten feet in height. 

 One wonders how it is possible for these rocks to 

 have found their way into the middle of this level 

 swamp-land. 



So we marched on through thick and thin, and 

 once when I remarked to the guides that they 

 might let us halt for the day, as the porters must 

 be tired with wadinor throug^h the mud, I was told 

 that our quarters for the night were quite near. 

 It turned out, however, that they were at least two 

 whole hours distant. But the porters all got there, 

 which will give an idea of a Baganda's marching 

 powers, when he does march, as well as the 

 inconsequence and lack of knowledge of one's 

 daily guide. 



On nearing the Kafu river I had to work west- 

 wards, as the stream was swollen and impassable 

 where I now struck it, and there were no natives 

 with canoes in this low-lying expanse of swamp. 

 It was therefore necessary to strike for the 

 scene of my previous passage, where also I hoped 

 to find some g-ame for the larder in the half-cleared 

 country amongst the shambas that I knew off. 

 We hit off the crossing all right at Kichuya, and 

 I was able to get meat for myself, the remainder 

 of the party also tumbling in for their share ; but 

 on the way we had to negotiate a large marsh 



220 



