64 THE DISCOVERY OF LAKE RUDOLF 



US ill Zanzibar, and to whose powerful co-operation we owed 

 the fact that we had been able to make this our first geo- 

 graphical discovery. 



Soon after this we reached the edge of the plateau, and 

 went down some 700 or 800 feet by an extremely steep path, 

 the descent being most arduous to the heavily laden porters. 

 Very abrupt was now the transition from volcanic to meta- 

 morphic formation, the ashes, lava, basalt, and pumice-stone, 

 with which our course had been strewn, being now exchanged 

 for different coloured gneiss, mica, felspar, calcareous spar, &c 

 Chuma very soon had quite a collection of minerals in his 

 bag. 



So far the young Barnoti from Nyemps had led us, but this 

 morning the old Baringo, as we called our second guide, 

 was to take his place at the head of the caravan and escort 

 us to a watering place called Barasaloy, according to him 

 only a few hours off and much frequented by crocodiles and 

 hippopotami. 



We had fully expected that after crossing the plateau we 

 should go direct in a northerly direction to Mount Nyiro, which 

 rose up in the blue distance as a rather insignificant -looking 

 mass, so that we were not a little surprised to find that we 

 were bearinsf east alongf the drv bed of the brook forming; a 

 continuation of the valley already passed through. Baringo 

 must know best, we thought, for he pretended that he had 

 minded his sheep here in his youth and behaved as if he felt 

 thoroughly at home. So with light hearts we followed him in 

 the scorching heat of the sun through the deep sand of the 

 water-channel, hoping that every bend would bring us to 

 rush-bordered meadows. Expecting a short march only, none 

 of us had brought any water with us, and our thirst now 

 quickened our steps. But hour after hour passed by, and we 

 were still in a barren waterless wilderness. Here and there we 



