Lake Tanganyika 



botanist. High above on the red chff-face are the nesting- 

 places of marabou storks and many other birds, the lower 

 buttresses being painted a vivid green by the many species 

 of curious mosses and plants. Amongst these, growing in 

 great profusion, was an elegant species of tania, the foliage of 

 which was in perpetual agitation, caused by air pressure 

 produced by the falhng mass of water. When the sun is out 

 a beautiful rainbow forms on the rising mist, enhancing the 

 loveliness of this delectable spot. Like some few other places 

 that I know, it was difficult for me to tear myself away, 

 such was its fascination. 



It is said that there is what the missionaries hereabouts 

 call a high priest of the falls, who is credited with having 

 to visit the foot of the falls once a year and drink its waters ; 

 but I guessed that the " priest " would turn out to be a 

 smelly old native in bark-cloth, so I refrained from seeking 

 him. In a place of such entrancing beauty and visited by 

 comparatively few white men, one would like to think that 

 the " madding crowd," with their continual striving after 

 place and power, could be quite forgotten for a time at least. 

 But no ; for as one turns round from the very brink of the 

 falls, one's attention is attracted by the ruins of a German 

 military outpost. A rude shock indeed ; and one moves 

 away in disgust ! 



Violent tornadoes are of frequent occurrence on Lake 

 Tanganyika, but more so in the daytime than at night ; 

 thus it was that we found ourselves, with our baggage stowed 

 away, on the good Belgian ship the ss. Baron Dhanis, 

 standing out for the open lake one hour after sundown, and 

 Albertville a smudge in the gathering gloom. Our course 

 lay N.N.E. for Kigoma Bay, a distance of eighty miles. 



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