CHAPTER XVI. 



MKUSHI TO BROKEN HILL — VILLAGE FESTIVITIES 



TORRENTIAL RAINS — A ** HUNGRY " ROAD. 



The morning of the 28th was fine, and we were off 

 betimes, with a native from the village to guide us 

 over the hills. The path, which we were glad to 

 find was nowhere unduly steep, led us up gradually 

 through grand and varied scenery, at one time 

 winding its way through dark patches of forest, at 

 another skirting marshy valleys, or crossing one of 

 the many streams of clear running water which were 

 rushing rapidly northwards to sw^ell the Luambwa 

 river, and eventually the mighty Congo. Towards 

 the summit we reached a more open country, with 

 rocky slopes and great grey lichen-covered boulders, 

 whence we had a distant view of the Irumi 

 Mountains, whose huge, perpendicular-looking 

 escarpments stood out boldly against the western 

 skyline. 



All around us were tree lilies (villagia spleiidens), 

 all in bloom : charming white or pale mauve flowers 

 and long, narrow, reed-like leaves growing in 

 bunches on a black, fibrous stalk which looked like 

 the stem of a tree fern. 



We were greatly struck with the beauty of these 

 forest-clad hills and green valleys, stretching for 

 miles on either side of us. A charming glade 



226 



