MPORORO AND EAST SHORE. 237 



Emin Pasha's description of the Nile below 

 the Albert Nyanza applies almost exactly: "The 

 mighty stream winds in curious curves between 

 papyrus masses often 12 feet high ; its current 

 is made apparent by the Pistias which float along 

 its surface." 



The water is usually yellowish-brown and it is 

 always deep, and never, where I saw it, interrupted 

 by islands. The breadth is also almost always 

 the same. The valley is usually a Hat alluvium, 

 sometimes of enormous width, as about Kitangule. 



Often when wandering along the banks I have 

 wondered if there was in this part another Egypt 

 lying dormant for want of population, intelligence, 

 and good government. 



I do not see why there should not be a great 

 future for these vast plains. There is sometimes 

 30 to 50 feet of rich alluvial soil, which is too dry 

 from April to October for any great amount of 

 native cultivation. The Wakaragwe have no idea 

 of " shadouf ' or " sakkieh," and have absolutely 

 no inducement to work. If they became rich, the 

 Arabs or the Wankoli would plunder them, so 

 they simply live on in their fathers' banana 

 plantations. 



Higher up the Hat alluvial part of the valley 

 narrows to about a mile in width. This is usually 

 covered with scattered thorn-trees of various kinds, 

 chiefly Acacia and Erythrina. Underneath there 

 is dense matted grass often two or three feet 



