WAGANDA PORTERS. 29 



be compared with their giant sisters growing farther north 

 between latitudes 8° and io°. 



The porters having been twice permitted to take a short rest, 

 the rapid march continued. The Waganda are splendid, inde- 

 fatigable porters. Following the sound of the drums which 

 called to us, we arrived early at our night's quarters, con- 

 sisting of several huts surrounded by plantations of sweet 

 potatoes, a solanum with edible red berries of the size of 

 cherries, and some bananas. The place is called Btuti, and 

 belongs to Kabrega. From there to our next night quarters, 

 Kyivambiri, was a hard march of over eight hours, rendered 

 more difficult by enormous pools of water extending far and 

 wide over the gently undulating land, and fringed by small 

 date palms. No attempt at cultivation breaks the ever- 

 lasting monotony of swamp, water, and Cyperus grass. No 

 house invites the stranger to enter and rest a while. Groups 

 of euphorbias and mimosas form the only relief to the swampy 

 land covered with tall grass, in which thousands of black and 

 white striped mosquitoes hold their concerts. The night was 

 not rendered more comfortable by the occurrence of two 

 thunderstorms at an interval of three hours from one another ; 

 and we were glad when, early in the morning, after the usual 

 delays, the march was recommenced. At the beginning of a 

 march every one tries to seize upon the lightest load ; many 

 endeavour, by hiding themselves, to avoid their duties altogether. 

 When, however, after long debates, accompanied by the personal 

 intervention of the chief, the people get the luggage once 

 divided, then there can be found no better porters or more 

 enduring than the Waganda. Boys of ten or twelve years of 

 age carry loads bigger than themselves. 



The water stood everywhere knee-deep upon the perfectly 

 level plain, thickly grown with grasses. A path eighteen 

 inches or two feet broad led us through this chaos of water 

 and mud. Where elephants had used it, their visits were 

 plainly indicated by holes, into which we sometimes fell. We 

 saw troops of elephants and small herds of buffaloes at a 

 distance from the road, enjoying themselves in the mud. If 

 our caravan approached them the buffaloes rushed madly 

 away, kicking up the water behind them, whereas the elephants 



