124 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



to 90 degrees in the shade. The grass is usually 

 burnt, and sometimes one passes for miles over 

 charcoal and blackened ground : while the dust of 

 burnt cinders fills the nose and eyes ; there is 

 nothing to see or notice except the hills covered 

 with their usual monotonous roofing of heavy 

 cloud. 



Fig. 21. — Sabeido Mkondja Chief. 



Just before reaching the Muhokia river, we 

 passed over a small stream, Ntsora, which is very 

 distinctly salt. This is the first sign of recent 

 volcanic action since leaving Kyatwa hill, at Buta- 

 nuka ; the area of recent volcanic rock extends 

 from here past the Salt lake to the Nyamgassa 

 river (see chapter x.). 



The cause of the desolate and barren character 



