Chapter I\'. 



cliaiii til nil iiortli to soiitli. and crossing the lower course of 

 the vallevs ami torrents wliieh nm down from the I'icloes. 



The couiitiv is fertile and well-watered, l)ut Nery sparsely 

 cultivated excepting in tlie neighbourhood of Fort Portal. 

 The population is wretched and unhealthy looking. The path, 

 now a mere track, now widenino; out into a road, is in mauA' 

 places a true mountain trail, which would be extremely 

 fatiguing and even ditheult were it not kept up with great 

 care. Natives are to be met at every step, especially women 

 and old men. emiiloved in mendin"- and weedino- it. The 

 Avomen. as usual, earrv their babies on their back or at their 

 lireast and keep their larger children by them. Children 

 and .adults are absolutely naked, or else wetir rags or skins 

 around the loins. The women adoi'u themselves with bracelets 

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

 arms and ankles. 



The way lietween Fort Portal and tlie Mobuku Valley was 

 traversed in tluee stages. After leaving the European station 

 the patli tirst descends over the wide road of the Mpango 

 Vallev and crosses the river on a wooden bridge. Next, it 

 ascends to the Roval Hill, where King Kasagama, surrounded 

 by his whole ct)urt, waited for H.R.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 tlie path, which winds between numerous huts scattered 

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

 extensive plantain gi'oves. 



The wav now led south-west, making straight for the 

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

 hours brought the expedition to Duwona camp, which stands 

 against the foot of the mountain among blossoming euphorbia 



106 



