THE LOWER BENCHES. 327 



the high mountains the Fourth Bench ; we 

 had been travelling on the plateau of the Loieta 

 the Third Bench ; now we were to penetrate 

 some apparently low hills down an unexpected 

 thousand feet to the Second Bench. This was 

 smaller, perhaps only five miles at its widest. 

 Its outer rim consisted also of low hills concealing 

 a drop of precipitous cliffs. There were no 

 passes nor canons here the streams dropped 

 over in waterfalls and precarious game trails 

 offered the only chance for descent. The First 

 Bench was a mere ledge, a mile or so wide. From 

 it one looked down into the deep gorge of the 

 Southern Guaso Nyero, and across to a tangle of 

 eroded mountains and malpais that filled the 

 eye. Only far off in an incredible distance were 

 other blue mountains that marked the other side 

 of the great Rift Valley. 



Our present task was to drop from the Third 

 Bench to the Second. For some distance we fol- 

 lowed the Narossara ; then, when it began to 

 drop into its tremendous gorge, we continued 

 along the hillsides above it until, by means of 

 various " hogs' backs " and tributary canons, we 

 were able to regain its level far below. The going 

 was rough and stony, and hard on the porters, 

 but the scenery was very wild and fine. We 



