Through the Semliki Valley 225 



was known amongst the natives, is still maintained to the present 

 day throughout the Congo territory. Europeans who by their 

 prominence specially impress the inhabitants are designated 

 "Bulamatari." The governor and the heads of districts are 

 frequently given this name ; I myself was honoured with it at 

 times. 



As little could be done in the way of enriching our collections 

 at this lake, we left again very shortly, taking a westerly direc- 

 tion. After a march of two and a half hours we arrived at the 

 foot of the mountains, having passed through a park-like, exten- 

 sive steppe, thickly grown with euphorbia. The sun poured 

 down unmercifully on the caravan, and thus made the ascent a 

 torture. The stony parts were so hot that, if the carriers halted, 

 the soles of their naked feet were burnt. At length we reached 

 a mountain brook, clear and cool, and the entire caravan plunged 

 into it without hesitation. Even the dogs jumped in with great 

 eagerness. The camp was pitched without delay. As the sun 

 sank, a beautifully refreshing breeze swept across the slopes, and 

 our thermometer sank to 21 degrees Celsius. We breathed new 

 life again. The heat had exercised a most enervating influence 

 upon us, and our sleep had been of a broken nature, as we were 

 continually waking bathed in perspiration. 



The next morning, which was cool and overcast, saw us on 

 our way to the ridge. Before us lay a wide, extensive plain, 

 whilst behind us the sun pierced its way gradually through the 

 mist. Lake Albert disappeared by degrees behind the mountain 

 tops, and we lost sight of the Central African rift-valley for 

 ever. 



The strips of country we hurriedly traversed during the days 



following were reminiscent of Ruanda, and were populated by 



Bawira and Bawisha. The undulating land is poor in timber and 



sparsely sprinkled with mtama fields ; game is entirely lacking. 



The nearer we approached the mountain dividing us from Kilo 



the more thickly inhabited became the country, and, naturally, 



the settlements increased too. The villages of the Bawira were 



striking in appearance and were erected in a circular form 

 2 D 



