xviii MINERALS 179 



than 30 square miles. In a normal condition it appear 

 as if it has frozen, and that then snow has fallen, that 

 the snow has then partially thawed and frozen solid 

 again, giving that surface which all English skaters 

 know to their disgust. The temperature gives the 

 lie to this appearance of ice, as the heat is extreme, and 

 on the lake in mid-day almost unbearable. The soda 

 burns the feet right through a boot, and the crystalline 

 spikes, for all the world like hoar-frost, will pierce any 

 but the thickest sole. After the rains there is a layer 

 of water over the greater part of the lake which turns 

 a lovely pink colour, giving the whole a wonderfully 

 beautiful appearance. By moonlight the scene is most 

 weird and never to be forgotten. It appears at such a 

 time as if one was looking at an arm of the sea on 

 which one can almost swear to a gentle swell. 



Another 60 miles further to the east is another and 

 much larger soda lake, Lake Natron, the great bulk of 

 which is in German territory. The soda deposit in 

 this is of a very inferior quality, and there is a much 

 greater proportion of mud and water. At the time I 

 visited it, its shores were the haunt of almost innumer- 

 able buffalo, lion, and antelope, and its waters of quite 

 innumerable flamingoes, herons, ibis, and other birds. 



p 2 n, 



Ml 



