XXXIV.] MAEENGA MKALI. 451 



along this terrace from Mpwapwa to Cliimyo, and there de- 

 scends into the Marenga Mkali, which may be fairly considered 

 as the commencement of the central plateau as well as of the 

 large country of Ugogo, though nominally Ugogo is not en- 

 tered till the Marenga Mkali is passed. 



The Marenga Mkali is an open level tract for the first fif- 

 teen miles, with numerous small hills, chiefly composed of 

 blocks of granite, often of a conical form, scattered about — 

 there being only a scanty vegetation of thin gras§ and thorns — 

 and intersected by numerous water-courses, which drain to "the 

 river of Maroro " in the rainy season. Afterward it becomes 

 more broken, and there is a good deal of thorny jungle. 



ISTotwithstanding the want of water experienced in crossing 

 the Marenga Mkali, most probably it might easily be obtained 

 there at any time by sinking wells, especially those of the Ab- 

 yssinian pattern, as the rain-fall during the season is very great. 



Leaving the Marenga Mkali, the aspect of Ugogo is that of 

 a brown, dried-up country, with occasional huge masses of gran- 

 ite, and the stiff Eupliorhia clinging to their sides. There are 

 no vivid greens or freshness of color, the only trees to be seen 

 being the gigantic and grotesque baobab and a few patches of 

 thorny scrub. 



The formation is sandstone, in some places overlaid with a 

 stratum of clay. The water is bad, and only to be obtained 

 from pits made by the natives to store some of the superabun- 

 dant rain-fall, or by digging in the beds of the water-courses. 



But in the rainy season all is different ; the whole country is 

 then green and verdant, and large expanses are covered with 

 matama, pumpkins, and tobacco, which form almost the only 

 crops cultivated by the inhabitants. 



To the north of the route a wave of higher land forms the 

 water-shed between the basin of the Kile and that of the Rwaha 

 (the upper course of the Lufiji), across the latter of which it 

 leads. 



A peculiar feature of Ugogo is the small ziwas, or ponds, 

 surrounded by verdure and acacias, as refreshing to the weary 

 traveler as an oasis in the Sahara. Numerous water -fowl — 

 duck, teal, and others ^ — frequent these ponds all the year round. 

 These ziwas are scattered about Ugogo in many places, and 



