26 FROM MAGUNGO TO MRULI. 



suit of the chase, are certainly not required. Only one who has 

 had any direct dealings with negroes, and has been dependent 

 upon them for the transport of goods, the supply of provisions, 

 &c. ; who has seen and experienced the glowing sun and the 

 fever-exhaling swamps of this territory ; who knows what it is 

 to be for long years shut out from all society, and to dispense 

 with the most ordinary comforts of life, can form a true esti- 

 mate of what Gordon Pasha accomplished here. He was 

 obliged, moreover, to create for himself the material with which 

 to do his work — and upon negroes he had to rely ! 



In pouring rain we descended the steep hill of Kisuga, and 

 passed the saddle-back where last year, when engaged upon a 

 peaceable exploration, we were first greeted by the volleys of 

 Kabrega's bodyguard, a greeting which was often our portion 

 during a three days' tedious march through the almost impene- 

 trable grass and bush. We then entered again into high grass, 

 above which the long branches of the eriodendron towered aloft 

 in scattered groups. The Bassia Parkii, which we previously 

 saw so often, has become very rare during the last few days. 

 Besides the red castle-like ant-hills we saw along this part 

 of the road another kind of structure, specimens of which 

 stand along the path like huge grey mushrooms. The path 

 seems to be much frequented by elephants, for we found 

 newly broken-down trees scattered about ; but no animals 

 of any kind were to be seen. The high grass became 

 gradually replaced by open park land and very beautiful 

 scenery ; the broad, well-dried path upon the red clayey ground 

 often expanded into small open places, the borders of which 

 were framed with short turf; trees and bushes formed them- 

 selves into groups, the red blooming canna being everywhere 

 abundant. Here and there in rocky ground, depressions formed 

 natural reservoirs for clear rain-water. The descent from Kisuga 

 to Mriili was very considerable. 



During the last part of the route two species of mimosa were 

 added to the already far too numerous thorns and prickles, the 

 one with yellowish green bark and long snow-white thorns, the 

 other one, well known through Schweinfurth, the Acacia fistula 

 (Arabic, Um Suffara), with snow-white vesiculate thorns and 

 white bark, giving to the tree a very peculiar and unique 



