60 



THE DISCOVERY OF LAKE RUDOLF 



equally rugged hills and hillocks, the precipitous western slopes 

 contrasting with the flat deserted plain from which they rose, 

 whilst far away in the same direction the horizon was shut in 

 by blue mountain heights. Full though the scene spread out 

 before us was of character, it was wanting in charm, for the 

 fresh green woods of the valleys at our feet were untenanted 

 by any living creature, and the utter stillness and loneliness 

 could not but affect us. On the wide plain the hot sun seemed 

 to have withered up every trace of vegetation, and before the 

 bitter east wind, which was whistling in our ears, were driven 

 clouds of dust and sand. On the south of the steppe we were 

 just able to make out the flat-topped isolated Paga and Erre 

 mountains, which slope down to Lake Baringo, but from here 

 looked like narrow gleaming stripes. 



We looked forward with great interest to our next march, 

 as it was to lead us over the Loroghi chain, rising up like a 

 dark mass of vegetation against the northern horizon. Con- 

 trary to my expectations the ascent was for several hours quite 

 gradual over grassy slopes, often close to the edge of wooded 

 ravines running parallel with the mountains. A glance in a 

 north-westerly direction showed us that the Loroghi chain is 

 bounded on the west by the plateau, which is but slightly 

 inferior in absolute height to the ridge of the range. The latter 

 is some 8,500 feet high, an altitude fairly maintained through- 

 out the whole thirty-eight miles of extent. The relative height 

 of the mountain range above the surrounding plateau varies, 

 however, as the latter slopes slightly from west to east. The 

 southern end of the Loroghi chain had risen up to a consider- 

 able height opposite to us when we were on the Guaso Nyiro, 

 whilst here the summit almost melted away in its surround- 

 ings. But there we had been at a height of from 4,600 to 

 4,900 feet only, whilst here our aneroid registered 8.200 feet, 

 showing that we had reached the highest point of the plateau. 



