18 
THE THOWA EIYEE 
watercourse, up which we worked our way. The width 
gradually increased, and we were soon astonished to find our- 
selves in a bed as broad as that of the Thowa, and fringed with 
large trees and dom palms. Water was found at a depth of 
about four or five feet in the sand. 
The next day we continued up the river to a spot called 
Kasiluni Kwa Mahundu. In times past the guides told me 
Mahundu had been a mighty hunter and this was his favourite 
haunt. In fact, I was shown a gnarled old tree much disfigured 
by Mahundu in his efforts to make a suitable platform from 
which to shoot down at the elephants as they came to drink. 
Solo also seemed well up in the geography of the neighbourhood, 
and volunteered to go on up to another waterhole and see if 
water was obtainable. He returned early next morning, but 
his news was not encouraging, so we struck back on to the 
Thowa again and pursued our old track back to Mutha. 
Though we failed to reach the Tana, the main object of the 
trip had been performed, namely, the determination of the 
course of the Thowa. Furthermore, I am convinced that 
Captain Aylmer’s information was, in the main, correct. From 
the general appearance of the country between the Thowa 
Eiver Camp and Kauti, and especially from the existence of 
these mud-pans, I am of the opinion that during the rains that 
region is for the most part under water : in this I am also 
supported by the evidence of the natives I had with me. From 
the appearance of the higher ground it would seem that the 
rainfall in these parts is very small. The flood must be entirely 
derived from the rains that fall on the hills which compose the 
centre and inhabited parts of the Kitui district. 
At Muthungui there was a marked tree which, I was in- 
formed, stood at the termination of the river, but owing to 
exceptionally heavy rains, which occurred some years ago, this 
seems to have been extended so that the waters have now been 
pushed on several hundred yards. 
The whole country, with the exception perhaps of a few 
hundred yards on either side of the river, is, I should say, 
entirely worthless. If the flood could be controlled, a limited 
cultivation might be possible, but at present I understand 
that the entire lack of water, even in the river bed during 
