52 



THE CENTRAL PROVINCE 



that are about two and a half inches long by two inches broad, of a creamy 

 white touched with rose colour in the centre, is one of the most beautiful 

 objects in the floral world of Uganda. These balsams grow luxuriantly 

 along the native paths encompassing the mountain, and their flowers look 

 like large white butterflies poised on the succulent green. 



The great interest of the southern slopes of Elgon lies in the caves, 

 which were first discovered by Joseph Thomson. These holes or recesses, 

 with a ceiling which may, near the mouth of the cave, arch to a height 

 of something like thirty feet, are generally situated close to the base of the 



43. KXTKANCE TO CAVE PAUTIALLY CLOSED WITH STICKS AND STONES 



awful mountain cliffs that mark the abrupt descent of the lowest terrace 

 skirting the central crater wall. 1 am unable to throw much more light 

 on the origin of these curious recesses than the information given by their 

 first discoverer, Joseph Thomson, except to point out that similar caves exist 

 on the northern slopes of the mountain at much the same level, and also 

 at the base of precipitous overhanging cliffs. Very often the face of the 

 cliff in which the cave is situated makes an angle of 100° with the terrace 

 below and seems to menace an awful landslip. As these precipitous walls 

 of overhanging rocks are streamed over by the cascades of rivers rising 

 near tlie central crater, and as these cascades occur on an average every four 



