On the Tana. 2 2g 
middle age, of a light mercurial disposition, and 
possesses considerable influence among his own 
people. His plantation is one of bananas and rice, 
as indeed are all other Kipokomo plantations ; for 
these two articles seem to be the chief of their pro- 
ductions, abundance of water in the country being 
favourable to both these plants. The next bend in 
the river beyond Bandi is called Mulomi. There 
was formerly a village here, but nothing remains of 
it now. The Wapokomo are probably like the Wanika 
and Wasuahili, who work a patch of land until it is 
exhausted, and then seek a plantation elsewhere, on 
virgin soil, or at least on soil that has long rested, 
which amounts to the same thing. Beyond Mulomi 
is Mana Thamba, also formerly inhabited but now 
abandoned. Here the left bank of the river is lined 
with the evergreen, large-leaved mkungu trees, while 
the right is covered with tall, thick, rank grass and 
rushes, with a sprinkling of the makormo, (fan-palm) 
lying a little in the background. 
The next place is called Forforeni. Right bank of 
the river still covered with grass, and lying back, a 
little behind, makorma trees, through which was a 
path leading to Mana Mvoko, but all was under 
water. Further on is Virarani, on the left bank of 
the stream. There was once a village with planta- 
tions here, but all had passed away. It is marked 
by a thickish growth of makorma, and has the advan- 
tage of containing a little plot of elevated and, there- 
fore, dry ground. Next come Malka Bakolele and 
Kiluluni, where there are makondi (plantations) of 
bananas and rice. Next we reached Kikau, a village 
on the right bank, flooded and scarcely visible among 
