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RUWENZORI EXPEDITION REPORTS. 



2. ITINERARY. 



October 1905 to November 1906. 

 By R. B. WoosNAM. 



Eeceived and read November 17, 1908. 

 [Text-figures 1 & 2.] 



Leaving England on October the 8th, 1905, by one of the German East African Company's 

 boats, the Expedition landed at Mombasa on November the 6th. All the supplies 

 and most of the camp-equipment, collecting-boxes, and other impedimenta had been 

 dispatched by a previous boat to the care of Messrs. Smith, Mackenzie, and Co., who 

 had sent them off on their way up country. The Expedition was thus able to proceed 

 without delay by the first train to Kisumu on Victoria Nyanza and thence, by one of 

 the excellent steamers which have lately been built upon the lake, to Entebbe, the 

 whole journey from Mombasa taking three days, whereas, before the construction of 

 the Uganda Railway, it was a long and difficult march of three months. During the 

 few days spent at Mombasa much kind advice and assistance were obtained from 

 Mr. F. J. Jackson, C.B., C.M.G., at that time Acting Commissioner of the East Africa 

 Protectorate, and his wide experience of Uganda enabled him to supply the members 

 of the Expedition with valuable information upon many points. 



At Entebbe a serious delay of twelve days was caused by the non-arrival of the 

 truck-load of supplies and camp-equipment, which had been sent ofi' from Mombasa 

 a fortnight earlier, and which we were assured would be waiting for us. Telegrams 

 having been dispatched to all possible sources of information, news was at last obtained 

 that the missing truck had been delayed at Nairobi and that it would be forwarded 

 at the first opportunity. The fortnight's stay at Entebbe, though an annoying loss 

 of time, passed pleasantly enough for the members of the Expedition. A little 

 collecting was done and a memorable day's expedition was made on the lake in canoes, 

 resultmg in the death of several crocodiles and a hippopotamus. 



The long war-canoes of Victoria Nyanza, holding 40 paddlers, are quite worthy of 

 note. They are made of long thin planks, each of which is hewn from a single tree- 

 trunk. As no saw or similar tool is used only one plank can be made from each tree, 

 and the whole trunk has to be cut away in small chips on either side till only the 

 plank remains. The planks are sewn together with grass or strips of fibre, one 

 forming the bottom and two or more the sides of a light strong craft, which is capable 



