THE VICTORIA REGION. 41 



occupy all the shallower reaches and river courses 

 of the Nyanza gradually proceed lake wards, 

 leaving behind a dry alluvial soil, under which 

 such little water as still finds its way down the 

 valley proceeds to the lake. 



In the course of the Kagera, and in all places 

 where irrigation could be carried on by means even 

 of the primitive shadouf and sakkieh, this means 

 the possibility of enormous crops of cotton, sugar, 

 rice, and wheat, for the alluvium is often 30 feet 

 deep. 



Thus the whole of Uganda, Usoga, and much of 

 Karagwe consists of an infinity of hills and ridges 

 4,110 feet, on an average, above the sea ; their fiat 

 valleys are usually occupied by swamp-rivers, often 

 half a mile wide, such as the Nabajisu, the 

 Nakaiba, and Katonga. These curve and twist 

 about in an extraordinary fashion and have 

 numerous minor swamps connected with them. 

 It is thus immediately obvious that railways are 

 impossible and roads extremely difficult. In the 

 course of 20 miles one may have to cross eight 

 swamps from a quarter to three-quarters of a 

 mile wide, and mount and descend twelve hills 

 each 300 feet high and also steep. 



Transport in future will probably be carried on 

 by utilising these swamp-rivers, now a barrier to 

 locomotion, as means of transport.* Either canals 

 will be cut and barges kept to proceed up and 



* This has already been suggested by Captain Lugard. 



