112 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



distance. We knew that at some point this side 

 of the range the Guaso Nyiro flowed. The spot where 

 we lunched brought to my mind the following lines 

 from Browning's poem, Childe Roland : 

 « 



The hills like giants at a hunting lay, 

 Chin upon hand, to see the game at bay. 



From this point our route lay downhill and desert- 

 wards. We found an excellent and well-beaten trail. 

 This trail was made by the mountain people, who use 

 it on their way to a crater distant six miles. It is 

 called Ngombe (ox), from a fancied resemblance 

 between its outline and that animal. In this crater 

 there is a large deposit of sulphate of magnesium, 

 which is used by the natives in lieu of salt ; and it is 

 much prized by them as a delicacy. Along the trail 

 I picked up a native bag made of leather, which 

 Motio said had been carried by a friend of his, who 

 had sfone in search of salt two weeks before. On his 

 return journey he had been attacked by a lion, left by 

 his friends, and, in consequence, eaten. I was glad 

 the king of beasts was not a vegetarian, for in the bag 

 were two yams, which proved a welcome addition to 

 our beans and meat. 



We reached Ngome at five o'clock, and pitched camp 

 half-way up the side of the crater. Near our camp 

 I noticed that the side of the mountain was rent apart. 

 Entering this opening, I pursued my way for some 

 distance between high and jagged walls, when I found 

 the gulch narrowed until it resembled the gateway of 

 some ruined mediaeval castle. Beyond the gateway it 

 again widened, and my eyes were resting upon a vast 



