VEGETATION NEAR KIROTO. 19 



entirely new to me ; having a stem about forty inches high, three 

 to four inches thick (resembling that of the yucca), it grows to 

 the height of about eight feet, the foliage dark green, rather 

 broad, lily-like leaves two feet long, which, alternating with 

 striking regularity, encircle with their bases more than half the 

 stem. I have seen the plant only once since, between Londu. 

 and Kisiiga, again in the neighbourhood of huts ; yet I learn 

 from the inhabitants that it is to be found here and there, and 

 that the blossom is white.* 



In all directions well-worn paths cross the country, a testi- 

 mony to the intercourse of the natives among themselves. A 

 solitary Doleb palm marked the ascent close to Magungo. The 

 last part of the road to Kiroto is rendered almost impass- 

 able by the luxurious and entangled growth of grass ; masses 

 of reeds of imposing height and great breadth often intrude 

 themselves between the grasses, and add not a little to the 

 difficulties of the way. The bamboo proper is apparently not 

 to be found here. Where there is an accumulation of water 

 in the hollows of the ground, vegetation develops in over- 

 whelming abundance. One is often compelled to use con- 

 siderable strength in forcing one's way through ; and it is 

 hot to suffocation in these thickets, in which the odour of 

 decaying plants blends with the strong perfume of certain 

 Compositse. Strange to say, all animal life appears to die out 

 of these grass forests during the day ; one hardly hears the 

 twittering of the birds or the distant trumpeting of the 

 elephant ; even the traveller is silent, and presses forward, 

 anxious to reach some open space. At night, indeed, it is 

 otherwise, as I often discovered during the previous year 

 upon the endless prairie, over which one travels for five days 

 between Fatiko and Fauvera. No sooner does the moon 

 flood its silver light upon the grass waving in the night breeze, 

 no sooner do fantastic shadows close around the traveller, than 

 the land is filled with ghostly life. There is a rustling and 

 a surging ; the spell is broken — the animal world awakes. 



Near Kiroto grow lofty Spathodeas, with their magnificent 



* This plant is easily recognised in a photograph of a group of trees which was 

 taken by Richard Buchta on the Somerset Nile, and which has been published by 

 him in his "Album of Photographs." — G. S. 



