

EGYPTIAN GEESE ON THE SWAMPS 



VI 



By the Njiri Lakes 



TH E time of the great rains came to an end that year 

 as quickly and suddenly as it had set in. In the 

 course of three weeks immense expanses of water had 

 spread over the parched velt, and pools and lakes 

 had filled. The scorched and blackened soil had become 

 covered as though by magic with rich green. Trees and 

 bushes had been awakened into life out of their winter 

 sleep, and swollen streams took the place, for a brief period, 

 of empty river-beds. 



In the deep valley to the west of Kilimanjaro, the 

 lowest declivities of which form the west and east Njiri 

 swamps, the masses of water coming together formed one 

 great lake. 



For weeks the greater portion of the animal world 

 had roamed at large over the watered and grass-grown 

 steppes. The remotest regions had been made accessible 

 to man and beast. Elephants, rhinoceroses, and antelopes 

 wandered everywhere, so scattered in every direction that 



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