62 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



things are disappearing into their proper boxes 

 and the tent is taken down and packed. The way 

 at first will lead through the curious hedges made 

 of Euphorbia, then passing through a few little 

 plots of maize and millet, it enters on a breezy, 

 grassy plateau. After one or two hours of this, 

 there comes into view a deep valley filled by a 

 broad green swamp, bounded by strips of forest. 

 Far too soon the morass is reached. 



Now there are many ways of crossing a swamp. 

 You may sit upon the shoulders of a stalwart 

 Suahili and crook your legs under his armpits. 

 The advantage of this method depends upon the 

 efficiency of the Suahili and your own weight, but 

 it is not pleasant at the best of times, as it is more 

 than usual for your steed to subside, and you will 

 emerge from the quagmire with mud in your eyes, 

 rage in your heart, and improper words on your 

 tongue. 



Not at all a bad plan is to divest yourself of 

 unnecessary clothing and inarch right through, 

 but in this case your condition is appalling at the 

 other end. 



Another method is to scramble along the sides 

 of the path, getting a precarious and slippery 

 looting on the roots of the papyrus, and occa- 

 sionally taking agile leaps over a hopelessly 

 creamy piece. Only this almost always involves 

 a false step, and one leg sinks into unknown 

 depths of black and loathsome putrefaction. 



