THE ELMOLO FLEE FEOM US 109 



consisting of masses of a light coarse-grained schistous rock, 

 which Dr. Franz Toula subsequently identified as microphytal 

 slate. ^Nearer the lake we came upon a briskly bubbling spring 

 of bitter saline water, the ground round which was covered with 

 a thick encrustation of salt. With the temperature of the air at 

 + 32° Centigrade, that of the water registered +42° Centigrade. 



About three-quarters of a mile from the part of the shore we 

 had just reached rose three small barren islets of rock to which 

 Lembasso had previously called our attention, telling us that 



THE SOUTHERN ELMOLO ISLAND ON LAKE RUDOLF. 



they were inhabited. We therefore kept a sharp look-out for 

 natives on our way down, but only after a long search did we 

 spy a few upon a little peninsula somewhat further south, 

 who were just about to launch a couple of canoes. They 

 seemed very much alarmed when they caught sight of us, but 

 Lembasso and Sokoni at once hurried ofi" to reassure them and 

 invite them to a shauri with us. Meanwhile, however, though 

 they could see our envoys approaching, and hear them shouting 

 out that they were friends, they jumped into their canoes, 

 and pushed olF. So the shauri began at a very considerable 



