Through the Semliki Valley 221 



invited us to Kiagode, the Belgian camp about one and a half 

 hours' distant. On the next day we made the acquaintance of 

 Lieutenant Weber and the courteous commander of the com- 

 mission, M. Bastien, who had been staying at the English camp 

 on the Semliki, but who had hurried back on hearing of our 

 arrival. We stayed there for a few days in most agreeable com- 

 pany, and had every attention lavished on us. All our desires 

 were complied with immediately. 



The camp, which was situated at a high altitude and 

 fanned by refreshing breezes, consisted of roomy matele 

 dwellings, and was in the province of the young chief Tabaru. 

 An opportunity of exchanging greetings with him occurred 

 on the day that we arrived, for he met us on the boundary 

 of his territory. 



As we intended to visit the British Commission working in 

 British territory on the Semliki, we left the Congo State for a 

 short period. The Russisi-Kiwu zone was the point of departure, 

 and there we bade farewell to Veriter, who returned to Rutschuru. 

 For four months he had shared the pleasures and difficulties of 

 the expedition, unselfishly furthering our interests, and endear- 

 ing himself to us all ; and his departure left a very considerable 

 gap in our circle. 



We started early on the 23rd of February, accompanied by 

 Commandant Bastien, and arrived in a few hours at the water- 

 shed that divides the basins of the Nile and Congo. My amiable 

 host left me there, and I rode forward alone with Wiese. We 

 soon reached the edge of the mountains which bound the Semliki 

 plain, and began to descend the steep road to the river. The 

 difference between the oppressive heat there and the cool fresh- 

 ness of Kiagode was most marked. 



The immense plain, which was very sparsely vegetated, was 

 alive with game. Moor antelopes and reed-bucks, detached or in 

 herds, gazed across at us. At noon of the 24th we espied the 

 extensive British encampment, and only a short time elapsed 

 before we were shaking hands with Colonel Bright and the officers 

 of his staff, who received us at the head of their military force. 



