Chapter IV. 



owing to the small space of level ground available. The ])orters 

 encamped as best they could on the steep slope. 



The view of the mountains was entirely cut otf by the spur 

 upon which the camp stood. On the other side they overlooked 



MT. SPEKE (the DUWONI OF JOHNSTON) SEEN FROM THE LOWER 

 MOBUKU VALr.EY. 



the plain of Ibanda, and down the wide valley till the point 



where everything disappeared in the misty atmosphere. The 



near hill sides were clad with dense forest diversified by 



small clearings covered with deep grass. There was scarcely 



any sign of animal life. Near the camp they saw lobelias for the 



first time. There were many dracsenas, and a most beautiful 



erithryna covered with flame-coloured blossoms. A narrow strip 



of small cultivated fields surrounds the tiny village, which is 



inhabited by a few Bakonjos, naked in sjiite of the cold of this 



hiffh reffion. 



116 



