I20 In the Heart of Africa 



broken up, and took seven hours to reach its destination, arriving 

 in a completely exhausted condition. The position of our haven 

 of rest, however, soon made us forget the discomforts of the 

 forenoon, for a few paces from where the tents were pitched 

 we discovered a mineral spring oozing in beautiful little bubbles 

 from the earth. Only those who, for months at a time, have 

 had to drink water of dubious character, which has to be boiled 

 or filtered daily, or who have manufactured a more than question- 

 able preparation with the aid of a gasogene, can form any idea 

 of our delight on finding this crystal-clear beverage. Everyone 

 flew to enjoy it, and we could hardly drink enough of it. At 

 first the " boys " and carriers regarded it with rather a sceptical 

 gaze, but after we had given it a trial they imitated our example 

 with avidity. , 



As the spring was situated a very little distance away from 

 the mission station of Ruasa we had the pleasure next day of 

 seeing Dr. Czekanowski, who had been working there for some 

 time and had learned of our arrival. He came by way of the 

 heights which bound the valley in the east, accompanied by 

 Brothers Dufays and Loupias. Soon afterwards Lieutenant 

 Knecht also came in and joined us for the further march to 

 Lakes Luhondo and Bolero. 



We started next morning whilst it was still dusk, and as 

 the rim of the sun's orb peeped curiously over the edge of the 

 mountains we suddenly caught sight of the deeply indented 

 fiords of Lake Luhondo gleaming in the early light of dawn and 

 wrapped in a light fog. 



Higher up to the north-east lies Lake Bolero united to its 

 sister lake by a splendid cascade which tumbles down with a 

 rushing fall over the steep mountain wall from a height of 

 over a hundred m.etres. The banks of both lakes are thickly 

 populated, and agriculture is diligently carried on in every 

 direction. We also saw once more a great number of banana 

 groves, a sight we had missed since leaving Kissenji. 



The two lakes are of interest zoologically in the fact that 

 no fish at all exist in the upper of the two, and only barbel an 



