Chaga. 
393 
a great deal of information. He spoke of the mount 
Meru, which is visible from Moche, and rises by com- 
pass due west of that place, behind Machame and 
Shira. It is a splendid mountain, detached from every- 
thing else, and runs up like a rounded pyramid to 
cloud-piercing heights, say, some 15,000 feet. Like 
Kilima Njaro, its top is seldom free of clouds, and its 
highest portions are often covered with snow. Mr. 
Rebmann says that he saw snow upon its eastern 
slopes, but I saw nothing of the kind ; on its western 
side, however, the natives declare that its snows are 
perpetual, ij) 
From the accounts of the Wachaga, Meru is in- 
habited by a very interesting tribe, chiefly engaged 
in agricultural pursuits ; but they are a fine, clever, 
bold and warlike race, though they had been of late 
harassed by the Arusha. Sadi told me that he once saw 
some Meru women who were as white as Wazungu. (?) 
Mandara related some wonderful things also of a 
lake he had heard of during his late expedition to 
Rombo and Useri in eastern Chaga, He said it was 
surrounded by cliffs so precipitous that it was im- 
possible for any one to descend to the water, and 
that it was the abode of unknown beings. People on 
the top of the cliffs could hear the lowing of oxen, 
the crowing of cocks, together with the sounds of the 
pounding and grinding of corn, proceeding from the 
caves below ! but nothing more was known of it. 
The Wataveta corroborated all that the mange 
said, declaring that they had often visited the lake, 
and that it was only half-a-day s march from Taveta. 
I decided, therefore, that, if possible, I would visit it 
myself on my return to the coast. 
