XXXVII 

 THE SOUTHERN GUASO NYERO 



THE southern Guaso Nyero, unlike its northern 

 namesake, is a sluggish muddy stream, rather 

 small, flowing between abrupt clay banks. Farther 

 down it drops into great canons and eroded abysses, 

 and acquires a certain grandeur. But here, at the 

 ford of Agate's Drift, it is decidedly unimpressive. 

 Scant greenery ornaments its banks. In fact, at 

 most places they run hard and baked to a sheer 

 drop-off of ten or fifteen feet. Scattered mimosa 

 trees and aloes mark its course. The earth for a 

 mile or so is trampled by thousands of Masai cattle 

 that at certain seasons pass through the funnel of 

 this, the only ford for miles Apparently insignificant, 

 it is given to sudden, tremendous rises. These 

 originate in the rainfalls of the upper Mau Escarp- 

 ment, many miles away. It behooves the safari to 

 cross promptly if it can; and to camp always on the 

 farther bank. 



This we did, pitching our tents in a little opening, 

 between clumps of pretty flowering aloes and the 



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