148 AN EXCURSION TO LUR. 



western shore the soundings only gave us fifteen to twenty feet; 

 they proved that the bottom is mostly covered with deep black 

 vegetable mould, whilst here it is of a very tough reddish clay. 

 The voyage from Magungo to this place occupied four hours 

 nine minutes, of which twenty-eight minutes were required 

 between Magungo and the doleb palms, that is to say, on the 

 river proper. On leaving Magungo the aneroid read 27.62 in. 

 (temp. 72° Fahr.) Here it gave 27.56 in. (7 5 . 1 ° Fahr.) The 

 little station of Mahagi is surrounded by luxuriant cornfields ; 

 behind it rise steep high mountains in a long chain, having on 

 the whole a direction from N.E. to S.W. The high Jebel Eruku 

 closes the panorama towards the south, whilst towards the east 

 the mist-covered lake appeared to have no bounds. What 

 lies towards the west behind the mountains is only known 

 from native reports. 



Toa, a large village belonging to Chief Sonda, lies near the 

 station, and thither my first excursion was directed. The huts 

 are built as in Unyoro, by constructing an almost dome-shaped 

 skeleton of pliable branches and rods. This is supported from 

 within by a number of straight posts, generally standing in 

 rows, and the front part is raised and arched over, forming a 

 porch. The whole is then covered with a thick layer of long 

 grass, coming down to the ground. These huts, if large enough, 

 leave nothing to be desired as regards neatness, comfort, and 

 coolness ; they can be divided into separate compartments by 

 reed walls, and furnished with sleeping-places, &c. The fire- 

 place is almost always in the middle ; the bed for the master 

 of the house is placed in a corner, a kind of fixed bedstead 

 being made, of short posts, with cross pieces of wood, over 

 which are spread hides and bark cloths. Gourd vessels of all 

 shapes and dimensions, black earthen vessels of a round and 

 usually hemispherical form, and mats of straw and bast form 

 the only furniture. Here and there bundles of seed, tobacco, 

 and pulse are hung up, neatly wrapped in broad leaves. Be- 

 side the chief's huts, which are distinguished by their greater 

 size and a smooth level fore-court for dancing, made of cow- 

 dung and mud, there usually stand one or two diminutive empty 

 huts, the only preceptible religious symbols. Trees covered 

 with hunting trophies are not to be found, but here and there 



