AND THE VICTORIA NYANZA 



73 



The northern coast of the A'ictoria Xyanza from Kavirondo Bav to the 

 western confines of Uganda is fringed with a chain of islands large and 

 small. Some are mere guano-covered rocks, sticking up like white pinnacles, 

 and ci'owned with cormorants. Other are strange assemblies of water-worn 

 boulders [died one on top of the other like a ruined temple of megaliths 

 built by some Cyclopean race. Indeed, to use simpler diction, I might 

 say that these islands of naked boulders reproduce over and over again 

 excellent imitations of Stonehenge. OF this character is Dolwe Island, 

 far out in the lake, in its north-east corner. Dolwe has pleasant sandy 



62. THE RIPON FALLS, FKOM BUGUNGU 



coves, fine shady trees, and a good deal of native cultivation ; but much 

 of its attendant islets and rocky shores consists of these extravagant piles 

 of boulders, on which are sometimes poised erect monoliths. Many a jjicture 

 might be painted here. The clean water, absolutely clear of sediment on 

 this rocky coast, is deep, untempered ultramarine. The boulders are a cool, 

 clean pale grey, glistening in the sunlight, polished by some past attrition. 

 Others, standing out in the water as strange pinnacles, are snow-white with 

 the guano of ages. They are perched on by cormorants of black-green 

 with white breasts. Peeping through these natural Carnacs and t^tone- 

 henges, one may catch many a pleasing glimpse of bright green verdure 

 and golden sandy cove looking towards the milder aspects of the 



