To Lake Albert Edward 183 



At Ruisamba a number of boats were lying on the beach, and 

 these we requisitioned for the passage across the elongated arm of 

 Lake Albert Edward. But out of the large number of craft there 

 were very few capable of reaching the opposite banks without first 

 going under. Most of them proved to be so leaky, that it was 

 impossible to put loads into them. Thus our transit in the few 

 intact boats lasted some hours. In consequence, we set up our 

 camp quite close to the shore on a high-lying plateau, which com- 

 manded a splendid view over a wide part of the lake. We were 

 not left long in the enjoyment of the fine prospect, for soon the 

 lowering clouds rolled themselves together threateningly, and a 

 storm of hurricane nature swept down over the lake, lashing and 

 churning its waters. It rushed over the camp, threatening to 

 upset all the tents, and ended by ripping off the roof of our 

 mess-tent and carrying it high into the air. 



Travelling by way of Njama Kasana — where elephants were 

 once numerous, but latterly have retired more to the Semiliki plain 

 — Kasindi was reached on the 6th of December after we had 

 passed through a broad euphorbiaceous steppe. Monsieur Boisac, 

 the Chef de poste, received us at the top of the terrace-shaped 

 formation on which the village is situated. 



Kasindi is quite a recent and but a temporary station. The 

 houses are built of a light material — rnatete* — and had fallen 

 badly into disrepair in consequence of the violent storn. In parts 

 they had to be kept from falling down by strong beams. Vermin 

 of every description housed there, the rats whisked about the 

 place as we messed, and their feet could be seen in the canvas 

 cover spread as a canopy, like those of rope-dancers in a net. 



The station itself lies en a desolate, treeless steppe, and is just 

 an hour's distance from the lake, which can be overlooked for 

 miles around. A small wood of acacias, which is a frequent 

 haunt of elephants, extends from below the station to the shores 

 of the lake. Away over the ranges of low hills which close 

 Kasindi in on the northern side, the snow-capped summits of the 

 Ruwenzori chain, which may be seen for a few moments in the 

 • Matete, elephant grass about i inch thick. 



