Cliapter I\'. 



chain from noitli to south, and crossmo- the lower course of 

 the valleys and torrents wliich run down from the rido'es. 



The country is fertile and well-watered, but very sparsely 

 cultivated except ini:- in the neio-hbourhood of Fort Portal. 

 The population is wretclied and unliealthy looking. The path, 

 now a mere track, now widening out into a road, is in many 

 places a trtie mountain trail, wliieli would be extremely 

 fatiguing and even difficult were it not kept up with great 

 care. Natives are to l)e met at every step, especially women 

 and old men. em})loved in mending and weeding it. The 

 womt'ii. as usual, carrv their ])abies on their back or at their 

 breast and keep their larger cliildren l)v them. Children 

 and adults are absolutely naked, or else wear rao-s or skins 

 ai-ound the loins. Tlie women adorn themselves with bracelets 

 or, lacking these, tie rings of twisted banana leaves round their 

 arms and ankles. 



Tlif \\av between Fort Portal and the Mobuku Valley was 

 traversed in three stages. After leaving the European station 

 the path tirst descends over the wide road of the Mpango 

 Valley and crosses the river on a wooden Inidge. Next, it 

 ascends to the lioyal Hill, where King Kasagama, surrounded 

 by his whole court, waited for H.E-.H. Another brief halt was 

 made at Notre-Dame de la Neige to take leave of the courteous 

 Fathers of the French Mission. Tall hedges run on either side 

 of the path, which winds between numerous huts scattered 

 in fields of pease, millet, sweet potatoes and tobacco, and 

 extensive plantain groves. 



The way now led soutli-west, makinii' straiii'ht for the 

 mountains. Low hills were crossed l)y easy slopes, and foiu' 

 lioui's bi'ought the (\\])edition to Duwoiia camp, which stands 

 against the foot of the mountain among blossoming euphorbia 



106 



