OKIGIN OF THE LAKE. 171 



think it more than probable that formerly a large stream may 

 have made its way from the south upon the high plateau between 

 the two ranges to east and west of the lake, so that its erosive 

 action, combined with that of inundations, heavy rains, caving- 

 in, and the influence of sun and weather, are quite sufficient 

 to account for the result. The geological formation of both 

 ranges is the same ; their altitudes differ but little, and the 

 terrace-like formation of their descent lakewards is in each 

 case exactly alike. The final decision will, of course, depend 

 upon the examination of the shores, and especially of the 

 rivers which empty their waters into the lake on the south — 

 work to which I hope shortly to direct my attention. 



Shortly after noon, we saw at the head of a wide crescent- 

 shaped bay, three large villages, all of which are built on the 

 outlying ridges close to the foot of the hills behind ; we cast 

 anchor off the southernmost of these, at about fifty yards from 

 land, but as the anchorage gave no shelter whatever against 

 wind and weather, we had to hold off shore during the day, 

 and at night to go out into deep water. As soon as we 

 anchored, a number of people appeared on shore laden with 

 thin beams of wood — material for firing — but they were 

 agreeably surprised when we told them we did not require it, 

 and only asked for some chips for our kitchen. Some of 

 Kabrega's people who had accompanied me from Wadelai, and 

 were bound for home, had meanwhile disembarked. Their 

 leader, Msige, now came back on board, along with the chief 

 of the place, Kagoro, who is a stalwart and very dark-skinned 

 fellow, with smooth shaven head, and was clad in the indis- 

 pensable clean-looking ox-hide, above which he had a piece of 

 new bark cloth, and in his hand the long staff of authority 

 which marks the Wanyoro chief. Kagoro bore himself with 

 much dignity, and made a favourable impression upon me. 

 After we had exchanged the usual compliments with each 

 other, and he had placed his district at my entire service — 

 as the old friend of Kabrega, I am held in high esteem by 

 the Wanyoro — we landed together, and sent a messenger to 

 Kabrega, with dispatches for the post to Uganda. 



Having expressed a wish to live on shore during the period 

 of my stay in this place, I immediately had the offer of any 



