82 DESCRIPTIVE 



and may safely be consigned to the limbo of 

 inaccurate cartography from which poor Africa 

 has so long and patiently suffered. Both the 

 Mupa and Mungari Rivers rise, or at least pass 

 through, a very extensive system of marsh 

 lying close to the fringe of virgin forest which 

 forms the eastern boundary of the continuous 

 tree growths, and ends at varying distances from 

 the coast. This marsh is one of the most 

 interesting and beautiful areas with which I am 

 acquainted in this part of Africa. To begin 

 with, it is many square miles in extent, and 

 runs nearly due north and south, almost as far 

 as eye can reach, a fascinating waving sea of 

 billowy, white-capped spear-grass, and mop-like, 

 apple-green papyrus rushes. Away to the east- 

 ward, if you climb a short way up a convenient 

 hyphoene palm, you will be able to follow the 

 courses of both the rivers I have mentioned, by 

 the low tree growths, occasionally varied by 

 straight-trunked palms which line their banks. 

 But immediately to the landward side of the 

 marsh — ^to the westward, that is to say — the 

 plain rises in a sort of grassy ledge, extending 

 for possibly a mile or two before the first out- 

 lying fringe of the forest is reached. Here in 

 the early morning, therefore, between the shelter 

 of the forest and the morning drinking-place, 

 may often be seen game beasts in something 

 approaching the astonishing profusion, both of 

 numbers and varieties, which is unfortunately 

 now becoming so rare. 



But as a sort of preliminary to discussing 



