DISCOVERY OF THE VICTORIA N'YAKZA. 101 



and the lake is 3767 feet; that of the lake itself, 

 3750 feet The tribes, as a rule, are well disposed 

 towards all strangers, and wish to extend their 

 commerce. Their social state Tather represents a 

 conservative than a radical disposition ; and their 

 government is a sort of semi -patriarchal -feudal ar- 

 rangement, and, like a band of robbers, all hold 

 together from feeling the necessity of mutual sup- 

 port. Bordering the south of the lake, there are 

 vast fields of iron ; cotton is also abundant ; and 

 every tropical plant or tree could grow ; those that 

 do exist, even rice, vegetate in the utmost luxuri- 

 ance. Cattle are very abundant, and hides fill every 

 house. On the east of the lake, ivory is said to be 

 very abundant and cheap ; and on the west we hear 

 of many advantages which are especially worthy of 

 our notice. The Karagwa hills overlooking the 

 lake are high, cold, and healthy, and have enor- 

 mous droves of cattle bearing horns of stupendous 

 size ; and ivory, fine timber, and all the necessaries 

 of life, are to be found in great profusion there. 

 Again, beyond the equator, of the kingdom of Ug- 

 anda we hear from everybody a rapturous account. 

 That country evidently swarms with people who 

 cultivate coffee and all the common grains, and 

 have large flocks and herds, even greater than what 

 I have lately seen. Xow if the X'yanza be really 

 the Nile's fount, which I sincerely believe to be 

 the case, what an advantage this will be to the 



