192 In the Heart of Africa 



Lake Albert Edward by a narrow, steeply rising neck of land. 

 At first sight the place offers an extraordinary aspect. The won- 

 derful wine-red colouring of the water spread out at our feet like 

 a sea of blood, the blue canopy of the heavens, separated by the 

 yellow sand dunes from the ruddy water, presented a curious 

 contrast such as we were hardly likely to meet with again. 



The volume of water in the lake is considerably less than it 



was at one time. This can be seen at once from the salt deposits, 



which cover the banks to the height of several metres. The depth 



of the water does not amount even to a metre. This retrogression 



appears to have a close association with the steady diminution 



of the water of Lake Albert Edward, the two lakes being 



connected by subterranean confluents. As the bed of the salt 



lake lies considerably higher than that of Lake Albert Edward, 



its entire evaporation within a measurable space of time is quite 



conceivable. In consequence of the retrogression and the steady 



evaporation of its surface water, thick deposits have accumulated 



on its bed, which in the course of time have consolidated into a 



thick encrustation of salt. The salt is simply gathered up by a 



number of men, who enter the water absolutely naked and wade 



about collecting it. It is then packed on sledge-shaped boats, 



which are drawn up on to the land by other workers. Here 



powerful arms seize upon it, sort it out, and heap it up in 



pyramids of a metre high. After being broken into very small 



pieces it is stored in small sheds thatched with straw till it is 



ready for exportation. 



The following method is also adopted : On the two sides of 

 a small ditch, flat basins, or troughs, of three to five metres square 

 are fashioned by heaping up sand and clay. These are filled 

 with about a foot of water taken from the ditch by means of a 

 scoop or by hand. The power of the sun causes the water in the 

 various divisions to evaporate so rapidly, that after the expira- 

 tion of six days only a salt residue remains at the bottom. The 

 salt thus obtained is fiiner and whiter than that which is broken 

 away from the bed of the lake, and therefore commands a higher 

 price. The quantities obtained are very considerable, and not 



