174 A SAIL UPON THE ALBERT LAKE. 



middle of the village, on whose branches rested several snow- 

 white herons. The few Balanites which occur are small and 

 mean in appearance, and Zizyphus does not grow to be more 

 than a bush. A tree-like species of euphorbia {Euphorbia 

 tirucalli, I presume), as well as tall Calotropis procera, and 

 what was to me a new kind of Datura, with yellowish blossoms, 

 are, however, pretty frequent. But the characteristic covering 

 of the soil, except where the bare stone comes to the surface, is 

 a species of Anthistiria, which, however, is too short to be used 

 for the roofing of huts, and has no particular value as food for 

 animals. At intervals appear, as it were, islands of closely in- 

 terlaced prickly shrubs, and round about these are clumps of 

 Solanacese, tall Ocymum bushes, and some Leguminosae. 



These thickets, which are low and impenetrable, harbour 

 multitudes of small birds, among which the loud comical song 

 of the fantail warbler (Cisticola ladoensis) and the full ringing 

 notes of the grosbeak (Crithagra leucopygos) were especially 

 conspicuous. This portion of the lake shore forms undoubtedly 

 part of the steppe zone to which Wadelai belongs, and which 

 includes the entire valley of the Bahr-el-Jebel. As ornaments 

 of every pathway and every track, I may mention the great 

 number of turtle-doves (Turtur senegalensis) and the beautiful 

 finches (Lagonosticta rufopicta), which fly up from under the 

 traveller's feet at almost every step he takes, and, regardless 

 of the noise and bustle around them, go on searching for their 

 food in the midst of the village and the kraals as boldly as in 

 the thickets in their vicinity. The relative poverty of the 

 flora and its steppe-like character must be set down to the 

 fact that, although the amount of rainfall, like that in Wadelai, 

 is not small, taking the year through, yet its occurrence is 

 separated by such long periods of drought that the vegetation 

 has no opportunity to develop ; nor can the moisture, which 

 is engendered by evaporation from the waters of the lake do 

 anything to promote the growth of vegetation, because it is 

 carried away by the strong winds which almost constantly 

 prevail. Moreover, the humus which covers the stony dibris 

 is very thin. 



Immediately behind the village rises the principal range of 

 hills. The two individual hills which tower above the village 



