230 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



siderably below that of the Victoria region plateau. 

 This plain is broken by lakes and lagoons, and 

 is still a haunt of the ever-retiring elephant. I 

 am inclined to think a considerable part of it is 

 of recent volcanic origin, and quite similar to that 

 of the country round about the Salt lake. I 

 myself noticed no craters, but Captain Lugard, 

 whose route crossed mine, mentions several lakes 

 (Nyamsigira, Kibona, Kuamiga) which lie to the 

 east and north-east of my route. I was much 

 impressed by the volcanic appearance of Ibanda 

 mountain when descending from the Ankole hills, 

 but as my route was direct to Chansingaira, on 

 the shore of the Albert Edward, I did not see 

 any of these lakes or any definite evidence of 

 volcanic action. The tuff-like appearance of the 

 soil, however, near Visegwe's, which is quite 

 similar to that of the Salt lake, as well as Captain 

 Lugard' s account, which I did not then know of — 

 it is my rule to attempt to be perfectly impartial 

 by not reading what others have said before seeing 

 for myself — lead me to believe now that both 

 Ibanda and Ruansindi are volcanic cones, and that 

 the area of recent volcanic activity on the east side 

 of the Albert Edward is a very considerable one 

 {vide chap. x. and map). 



Just before Visegwe's, we coasted the Albert 

 Edward shore for a short distance. It is fringed 

 by giant bulrushes, and there are quantities of 

 herons, white ibis, ducks, and geese, as well as 



