18 



THE EASTERN PROVINCE 



in times of heavy rain can be extremely marshy. At such periods the 

 Rivers Tigrik and Molo unite their waters often in their lower courses 

 and bring about an extension of Bariiigo in the direction of Hannington. 



15. ACACIA-TREES, NEAR BARINGO 



The altitude of Lake Karingo is o,o25 feet, while that of Lakes Sug'ota 

 and Rudolf is not much over 1,200 feet; yet in descending to the level 

 of Baringo one has come upon a hot, harsh-looking country, not greatly 

 superior to the dreary regions in the Siik and Turkana countries. Along 

 the courses of permanent rivers there are splendid acacia-trees, wild date 

 palms, and a certain amount of pleasing vegetation. But far away from 

 permanent water the vegetation tends to be scrubby, thorny, and sparse. 

 But there is a certain largeness in the landscape, and other elements lend 

 themselves to the picturesque, notably the settlements of the Enjamusi 

 agricultural Masai. This is the celebrated country of " Njemps '' first 

 discovered by Joseph Thomson, to which so many caravans have resorted, 

 for rest amongst the friendly folk and the purchase of food, the Enjamusi 

 — or, as they call themselves, " Nyarnsi " — ^Masai being great cultivators. 

 Their two great towns lie respectively on the banks of the Lower Molo 



