6o THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 



Elevation, 4,250; four hours thirty minutes; 10 j 

 miles; morning, 59; noon, 80; night, 70. 



July 27. — An hour took us to the edge of the escarp- 

 ment, and we looked almost straight down 2,300 feet 

 to the broad lower expanse in which lay Natron. It 

 extended farther than we could see to the south. Its 

 upper end was guarded by two great lava mountains 

 (about eight miles apart) with faces that ran almost 

 sheer for more than 4,000 feet. The upper flats for 

 miles and miles shimmered white with soda. A green 

 line marked the meanderings of the N'gouramani, and 

 the nearer flats were covered with scrub. The distance 

 melted into illimitable plains. To our right was a deep- 

 riven canon to the edge of which our guides led us for 

 a look. 



After admiring the grandeurs and blue distances of 

 this very impressive scenery we commenced the descent. 

 It was by way of a very steep little spur jutting from 

 the main escarpment, and went almost straight down 

 by a series of zigzags. Two rhinos across a ravine 

 stared at us and we at them. We were each safe from 

 the other. Hard descent for men. Everybody happy, 

 however, because carrying meat. The guides, Cuning- 

 hame, myself, and gunbearers pushed ahead. I have, 

 to the great delight of everybody, introduced the ex- 

 pedient of blazing trails, in order to keep various divi- 

 sions in touch. They knew nothing of it before. 



Sweltering hot, and sun very strong. In the lower 



