444 LETTERS TO DR. SCHWEINFURTH. 



exactly like petechias, in the centre of which small hard pro- 

 minences appeared, accompanied by severe burning, and they 

 lasted for a long time. The cause of this affection was inexpli- 

 cable to me, until I found that it was produced by the bite of 

 a microscopic fly, which is unnoticed at the time, but which 

 gives rise to the results I have just described. I hope that a 

 change of air will free us from this affection, but I am told 

 that these flies are always found where many bananas grow. 

 Now there are plenty of bananas in this country, for, whereas 

 in Uganda, the banana country, only three kinds are culti- 

 vated, more than ten kinds grow here, artificial varieties like 

 the dates in Tripoli. I have myself only seen four kinds, 

 differing very considerably from each other. One of them 

 bore fruit eight to ten inches long, and as thick in proportion, 

 which so astonished me that I immediately ordered a number 

 of plants to be sent to Lado. This fruit, although of a very 

 solid consistence, has a very agreeable taste, and is eaten dried 

 by the big chiefs. You have also tasted such dried bananas 

 (badingo), and said that you liked them ; you will therefore 

 accept those I send you as a reminder of Monbuttu. Should 

 you require more, please say so. The banana groves, which 

 are here also left almost entirely to themselves, remind me 

 forcibly of Unyoro and Uganda ; but what an immense dif- 

 ference there is between those countries and Monbuttu ! 



The reason for this difference may be found, first, in the 

 country itself. Uganda lies at a much higher altitude than 

 Monbuttu, where two careful hypsometrical observations gave 

 an altitude for Bellima of only about 2500 feet, which, when 

 carefully calculated, will be probably considerably increased. 

 On this account, also, the flora in Uganda cannot compete 

 with that in Monbuttu; and although the same "gallery" 

 formation may be found there bordering the deepest water- 

 courses, it never, as far as I know, attains in that country the 

 overwhelming luxuriance which is seen here, and any single 

 species, whether tree or bush, never reaches such gigantic 

 dimensions there as here. The best proof I can give of this 

 thorough difference is the absence of palms in Uganda, where, 

 with the exception of the Phamix spinosa, a few dolebs, and 

 a species of Calamus, no further examples of this family are 



