Through the Semhki Valley i99 



and breaking a large number of banana trees. These phenomenal 

 displays of the African elements usually endure but for a short 

 time, and in this instance within a quarter of an hour the sun 

 was laughing at the ravages of the storm. 



Next day the entire expedition, accompanied by Veriter, 

 started off on a fourteen days' excursion towards the eastern 

 margin of the great forest. After a short march on the first day, 

 we pitched a camp deep in the forest, close to the dwelling of 

 the chief, Muera, who was, however, away. Breathless with 

 expectation, we penetrated the mysterious, shadowy depths of 

 this endless labyrinth of virgin forest. Our imagination was 

 strongly stirred by the accounts of notable men, such as Stanley, 

 Wissmann, and others, who had thrillingly described the delights 

 — and terrors — of their journeyings through the leafy jungle. 

 Since their time, however, the journey through the forest has 

 doubtless been lessened of its terrors, but for the first few days 

 of our stay there the full charm of its fascination was exercised 

 upon us. All poetic fancies, however, were soon dispelled by 

 the constantly increasing appeals to our scientific interest. 



The farther we penetrated its depths the greater grew the 

 rapture of our botanist, for he discovered flora which differed 

 essentially from any that we had hitherto encountered in the 

 forests. We also constantly came across zoological novelties, 

 more particularly smaller kinds of birds and lower forms of 

 animal life. Nevertheless, Schubotz, strange to say, found 

 species, particularly among the birds and the lepidoptera, which, 

 in spite of their pronounced western character, he had already 

 observed in the eastern forests and on the island of Kwidschwi, 

 on Lake Kiwu. Great keenness in collecting was soon shown, 

 which was evinced by the valuable spoils brought in from all 

 directions. 



On the third day of our halt, Muera himself appeared. It 

 was a matter of importance to us to get into contact with the 

 Wambutti — the true pygmies — whose distributional area starts 

 in this region. As the tribe which dwelt in the vicinity was 

 under Muera's authority, we were dependent upon him for help. 



