THE HIGHER UPLANDS 179 



shiny black spot. I have been told that this order 

 abounds in India also, where its seeds are much 

 used as ornaments by the various races. A very 

 pretty trellis creeper is the CUtorea ternatea, with 

 its quaintly shaped, crushed-strawberry shaded 

 flowers. It thrives as well in the garden as in the 

 wilds, many houses I am acquainted with having 

 reclaimed it for use against verandahs and out- 

 buildings ; its greenery faintly recalls that of the 

 well-known Virginia creeper. 



In the more elevated regions of this part of 

 Africa, the flora indicates marked changes the 

 higher one goes. Thus, on the way up to the 

 Angoni plateau, and having somewhat wearied, it 

 may be, of the consistent, the almost tiring beauty 

 of the maze of valleys and mountains, and anon 

 more valleys still, bewildering in their bold magni- 

 ficence as in their multitude, one turns with 

 something of relief to observe the details by the 

 way. The general characteristics are not unlike 

 what one might expect to find on Scottish uplands ; 

 bracken, gorse, and low bushes, with patches of 

 trees down in the hollows bordering the stream- 

 beds. Then there are shrubs resembling heath or 

 St. John's wort, and wide expanses of familiar 

 bracken, and one becomes aware, with a sigh of 

 real pleasure, that the hateful thorn bushes of the 

 plain are left behind. Among the short rich grass 

 you see clover growing, and the entire effect is 

 pleasantly homelike. It would not be using the 

 language of exaggeration to say that the flower 

 display of the higher uplands during the brief 

 period of the African spring is as amazing in its 



