XXXVII. 



THE SOUTHERN GUASO NYERO. 



THE Southern Guaso Nyero, unlike its north- 

 ern namesake, is a sluggish, muddy stream, 

 rather small, flowing between abrupt clay banks. 

 Farther down it drops into great canons and 

 eroded abysses, and acquires a certain grandeur. 

 But here, at the ford of Agate's Drift, it is de- 

 cidedly unimpressive. Scant greenery ornaments 

 its banks. In fact, at most places they run hard 

 and baked to a sheer drop-off of ten or fifteen 

 feet. Scattered mimosa trees and aloes mark 

 its course. The earth for a mile or so is trampled 

 by thousands of Masai cattle that at certain 

 seasons pass through the funnel of this, the only 

 ford for miles. Apparently insignificant, it is 

 given to sudden, tremendous rises. These origi- 

 nate in the rainfalls of the upper Mau Escarp- 

 ment, many miles away. It behooves the safari 



