THE SEMLIKI RIVER 129 



its banks three months previously. On this occasion 

 the water was low, though very cold (some of its 

 springs rise very high up in Ruwenzori), and our 

 caravan crossed without any difficulty. The Belgian 

 post of Kasindi, which was before on the river bank, 

 had been moved a few miles farther west on to 

 higher ground near the Lubilia River, a much more 

 suitable place for a permanent post. Arrived there, 

 we were met by an unexpected difficulty. The 

 natives in the Semliki Valley, which we must 

 traverse in order to approach Ruwenzori from the 

 west side, had recently been indulging in raids, and 

 had attacked one or two caravans, and the Belgian 

 officer at Kasindi decided that we must not start 

 without an escort. There were not soldiers enough 

 in the post for any to be spared on escort duty, and 

 there seemed to be every chance of our experiencing 

 the usual delay of weeks before anything could be 

 done ; but for once good fortune came our way in 

 the shape of a Belgian sous-officier and a dozen 

 native soldiers en route for Fort Beni, in the Semliki 

 Valley. 



The Belgians have constructed a road down the 

 Semliki Valley from Lake Albert Edward to Fort 

 Beni, and thence through the forest to the Aruwimi 

 district ; but whatever it may have been at the time 

 when it was first made, we found it in a state of the 

 most miserable disrepair, due partly to neglect and 

 partly to the destructive habits of elephants. From 

 Kasindi a few hours' march in a north-westerly 



9 



