Eastern Chaga and the Lake Chala, 447 
steep declivities, for hundreds of feet to the level of 
the surrounding plains. The north-west side only is 
higher than the ridge. On that side there is a small 
watercourse, or rather gutter, down which a little 
water may flow into it, at the time of rain, over the 
cliffs ; but such a supply cannot be sufficient to make 
up for the year's evaporation ; the idea, then, of its 
being supplied by springs having their origin in 
reservoirs situated in the elevated country towards 
Kilima Njaro is suggested. As there is no outlet, 
the only way in which it can throw itself off" is by 
evaporation from the surface, and by percolation 
through the rocks below. 
We had been told that no human being had ever 
descended to the water's edge, indeed that it was 
impossible for any one to do so ; moreover, that no 
animal had ever drunk of the waters of Chala. That 
no human being had ever taken the trouble to descend 
these chffs, I could believe ; and as for animals, the 
ape excepted, it is not likely that, as the river Lumi 
is so near, and the lake Jipe at no great distance, they 
would come here to drink; but in the impossibility of 
the thing I did not believe. The first sight of the 
cliffs, however, made me feel dubious, and I almost 
gave it up. But after awhile we discovered a place 
where we thought we might make the descent, though 
it was not easily done. In one place we had to drop 
ourselves over the face of a rock upon a ledge below, 
affording not more than twelve inches of footing, from 
which, if we had overbalanced ourselves in the least, 
we must have rolled to the bottom. It was effected, 
however, without accident and soon we had reached 
the water. The crater-like formation, the sea-blue 
