224 In the Heart of Africa 



hurry to hide their huge, ugly bodies in the water, which splashed 

 and foamed as though it were boiling. We were able to repeat 

 our adventure successfully on the next day, as Wiese's indisposi- 

 tion made it necessary to halt at the spot for a little time. On 

 opening the stomach of one of the reptiles we were surprised to 

 find it filled with an immense quantity of stones. 



We reached the southern end of Lake Albert on the ist of 

 March, having espied the glittering surface of its waters in the 

 distance on the previous day. On our way we passed an elephant 

 standing isolated in the reed-grass, surrounded by a number of 

 natives, who evidently thought of killing the beast. Our 

 caravan was halted in order to watch the interesting spectacle, 

 but as the hunters seemed unable to make up their minds to 

 commence the attack, we approached with the camera and took 

 a few photographs. 



The water of Lake Albert is clearer than that of the turbid, 

 loamy Lake Albert Edward. At Kassenje, where we halted, the 

 mountain ridges are some lO kilometres distant from the banks 

 and run parallel with it. The lake's banks at Kassenje are free 

 of reeds and only covered with rushes. Here Schubotz found a 

 mass of moss animalcula (bryozoon). Dredgings yielded spoils 

 of snails and shells. The plankton consisted mainly of 

 daphniad^ and copepoda. The lake was notably rich in shad, 

 whilst carp appeared to be entirely absent. 



This lake is far less rich, from the naturalist's point of view, 

 than Lake Albert Edward. Hippopotami and crocodiles are 

 encountered chiefly at the estuaries of the rivers that flow into 

 it, and ornithology is but poorly represented. 



We made the acquaintance at Kassenje of the young chief, 

 Dedoye, a son of Kawalli, at whose residence Stanley met Emin 

 Pasha in 1884. Stanley's old camp was only two hours distant; 

 the boundaries near Nsabe are stated to be still distinguishable. 

 Dedoye remembered " Bulamatari " well. As a small boy he 

 and his father had often spent days in company with Emin 

 and Stanley. 



The name "Bulamatari," or "Rock-blaster," by which Stanley 



