212 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



its area (though there are probably many elevated 

 dry spots, or climatic islands, enclosed in it), it is 

 marked by the same characters, being usually a 

 dense tropical forest with abundant moisture and 

 general steaminess, exceedingly unhealthy, and 

 deserving even to be called the worst fever district 

 in the world. 



The rains here are brought from the Atlantic 

 ocean by westerly and south-westerly winds, 

 which prevail during the whole year. It has 

 thus a most marked characteristic flora. The 

 same plants range from Kuwenzori and Tanganyika 

 to Sierra Leone and the Gambia. There is no 

 earthly reason why they should not, for the same 

 climatic conditions prevail everywhere. Thus 

 Kuwenzori belongs in part to the Western Flora, 

 and even up to about 7,000 feet altitude there are 

 upon its flanks deep, steamy, forest-clad valleys, 

 such as the Wimi, where I found numerous 

 characteristic forms belonging to the West. 



Of these plants many are creepers with broad, 

 rather thin, membranous leaves, with very long- 

 stalks. There are numerous ferns, but very few 

 annuals or small shrubs of any kind. All those 

 plants which are specially adapted to heat and 

 moisture together occur frequently. 



As to the origin of this very distinct flora, which 



is one of enormous size, it is extremely difficult to 



orm any opinion. It is not European, for I find 



no similarity to European or Mediterranean genera 



