462 Wanderings in Eastern Africa. 
the Nile sources are being discussed with such avidity, 
it will appear of some importance from the fact that 
through it lies the direct route to that great inland 
sea, which, if Captain Speke be correct — and his 
position is not yet unsettled — is the chief source of 
that great, mysterious river. 
Upon the map illustrating this volume, we have 
laid down several routes which were described to us 
by the members of the Kisuahili caravan we met at 
Taveta, immediately after they had returned from 
the country, when the particulars were fresh in their 
minds ; and as it will enable us to point out 
more clearly the striking features, we will follow 
the route in the remarks we have to make. First, 
we will take that from Taveta to Njemps, ob- 
serving that we have forborne to crowd the map 
with the names of the various stages, for the sake 
of clearness, and that for the same reason we will 
do so here. 
Proceeding over the north-eastern spurs of Kilima 
Njaro by Leita Ketok, Ngiri, and Jitini, in about 
twenty-five days the lake Naivasha is reached, the 
most remarkable features in the country passed over 
being the two mountains called El doinyo Erok. At 
Jitini, which is a small lake, and therefore much 
resorted to by caravans, another route branches off 
to Kikuyu and beyond. Naivasha is a large sheet of 
water, probably supplied from the elevated country 
towards Kenia. Singular things are reported of it ; 
for instance, that the water is sweet on one side of it, 
and salt on the other. In its caves, too, is said to 
exist a monster dragon, which, periodically making 
its appearance, performs the most dreadful deeds, de- 
