THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 321 



and from the mountains dividing British East Africa from 

 German East Africa south to a point yet to be determined. 

 From the escarpment the country rises through a series of 

 low ranges and valleys to a height of land near Oliondo, 

 whence it gradually descends again to the shores of the 

 lake. Twenty miles after leaving Oliondo the plateau 

 breaks into hills, or rather low rugged mountains with many 

 practicable passes. Here are the heights of Olgoss, Lobo, 

 etc. These low mountains run north and south, sweeping 

 at the extremities to the westward to embrace in their 

 arms an immense rolling plain covered with thin thorn 

 forest. This plain is bounded, or rather marked, to the 

 west by the ranges of Ikorongo and Tschamlino: though a 

 wide opening sweeps unobstructed through to Speke Gulf. 

 These westerly mountains are rugged but traversable; 

 generally volcanic in origin. Near the lake the character 

 of the country changes to low hills of alluvial soil, whence 

 emerge extraordinary rock outcrops. 



In the rains this country is all well watered. That the 

 rains are fairly heavy is proved by the size and erosion of 

 the watercourses. On the extreme east, and close under 

 the high moimtains that divide the German from the 

 British Protectorates, there is abundance of flowing streams; 

 but as one progresses westward it is necessary, out of the 

 rains, to search for springs or water ^' tanks." The Dor- 

 odedi, flowing past the end of Oliondo; the Bologonja, to 

 the extreme north; and the great Mara were the only per- 

 manent and flowing streams in all this vast area. The 

 swarms of game undoubtedly migrate, following the water 

 and feed. 



