From Naples to Entebbe. 



floating islands formed hv tangled masses of aquatic plants, upon 

 which germinate and grow the papyi'us, nympheea and other 

 species, which afibi'd shelter to myriads of aquatic birds. 



The north coast of the gulf forms a level plain. On tlie 

 south side, at a short distance from the shore, a series of 

 volcanic peaks, more or less rounded on tlie top, rise gradually 

 into a chain of wild mountains, culminating in a jagged ridge, 

 overtopped by a high and fissured cone nearly 4,000 feet above 

 the lake. 



Navigation on the Victoi'ia Nyanza ceases with nightfall. 

 On the evening of the 6th of Mav accordingly the Wmifred, 

 whicli had started at half-past two in the afternoon, cast anchor 

 near to the Island of Rusinga where she was to pass the niglit, 

 at the point where the Gulf of Kavirondo opens into the lake. 

 Tlie steamei- was immediately surroimded by native canoes. 

 These are lartre boats of slender form, carrying twenty rowers 

 or more, not roughly hollowed out of tree-trunks, l)ut liuilt 

 regularly from the keel u})ward with boards held together by 

 fibre cords and the interstices caulked with fibre and resinous 

 gums. The prow is armed with a long sharp point, covered at 

 ordinary times by the " prow of peace," the extremity of which 

 is turned vertically upward and is frequently adorned with 

 feathers, horns of animals, etc. 



The evening; \vas now closing in. The slender canoes were 

 leaving the sides of the Winifred. The fine nude torsos of tlie 

 native oarsmen strained every muscle to the rhythmical stroke. 

 The sharp click of the oars on the rowlocks was already dying 

 (lut in the distance. Tlie waves broke with a gentle murmur on 

 the .shore of the island. In the shallow water the hippopotami 

 lifted tlieir ungainly heads from among the reeds, while flights of 

 birds sought their roosting-places on the scattered rocks with 



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