THE THOWA RIVER 
17 
losing itself in an extensive swamp known as the Kamaka 
forest, a spot beloved by the old elephant-hunters. The 
southern arm, which is the main river, is very difficult to follow ; 
but on being joined by the Ngutu river reasserts itself in a 
remarkable manner, and runs in a broad and well-defined 
channel as far as Mutila. Beyond this point I am told it again 
divides, but at Kauti I found only one channel and that com- 
paratively narrow. From Kilumbi to Mutila the forest belt 
is much wider and abounds with elephants, but I did not see 
any very big tuskers. The largest that I saw might have scaled 
70 lb., but the owner had but one. 
From Kauti onwards the river became steadily narrower, 
but the heavy quartz sand, met with above, had for the most 
part given place to a fine mud, which set fairly hard and made 
walking much less arduous. 
On January 25 we reached Muthungui, where the river 
loses itself in sand and mud. This spot is covered with trees 
of some size, thick undergrowth and rank grass, and during the 
rains must be very swampy. This was the farthest point 
reached, and, according to my fixing, measures eighteen miles 
from the Tana at a point called Marumbini ; there I climbed a 
tree, one of the highest, but could see no signs of the Tana 
River. Eastwards the Thowa was no more, and the country 
presented an unbroken horizon of brown scrub. Turning 
west I could see the course of the Thowa, well-defined by the 
green belt of trees fringing either bank. The aneroid recorded 
an elevation of 360 feet above sea-level. 
The guides said that there was no water between Muthungui 
and the Tana, but that there existed a waterhole dug by the 
Galla people. It was doubtful if we should find water there. 
Moreover it appeared to be out of the direct line, so that two 
days would be required to reach the river. Shortage of supplies 
compelled us to relinquish the attempt to reach the Tana. 
From Kauti, by way of varying the return route, we struck 
north-west till we met with the Kathua. 1 This river we intended 
to follow up to its source, which the guides said was in the Endau 
range. A five-hour march brought us to a very small and dry 
1 Ka is a Kikumba diminutive, Kathua therefore means small Thua. 
Thowa should, I think, be spelt Thua, but I have adhered to the old spelling. 
Vol. III.— No. 5 0 
