RUTCHURU 177 



important stations on the eastern frontier of the 

 State. It stands on high ground above the right 

 bank of the Rutchuru River, between Lake Albert 

 Edward and the Mfumbiro volcanoes. From the 

 post a magnificent view can be seen of the volcanoes 

 lying between the east and south-west. They are 

 eight in number, and they are all visible from 

 Rutchuru. The nearest is about seven miles distant, 

 and Tsha-nina-gongo, the only one which exhibits 

 signs of great activity at present, lies about twenty 

 miles to the south-west. 



The climate of Rutchuru, considering the altitude 

 of the place and the fact that it is far removed from 

 swamps and mosquitoes, ought to be healthy enough, 

 but our convalescence proceeded very slowly, and 

 Belgians who had spent long periods there all told 

 us that the place had a bad effect upon them. If 

 this was not merely a coincidence — if there is really 

 something inherent in the climate which is prejudicial 

 to the health of Europeans — it disqualifies a large 

 tract of country which many sanguine people have 

 marked out as a place for future colonists. Many 

 European flowers and vegetables, sunflowers, arti- 

 chokes, and potatoes, flourish exceedingly at 

 Rutchuru, and for several months in the year straw- 

 berries bear fruit. Luckily for us, we arrived 

 during the strawberry season, and I think they 

 contributed as much as anything else to our recovery ; 

 they were pale and pleasantly acid, and about the 

 size of Alpine strawberries. 



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