482 
LUMBWA CAVES 
back. It is thus distributed all over the country to the various 
villages, and crushed and placed in wooden troughs for the 
stock to eat. The natives informed us that the rock from 
the various caves differed in quality. The majority was 
only fit for goats, and if given to cattle it made them thin. 
The rock near Kibroise, it was alleged, was especially good 
for cattle, and they brought cattle from long distances 
to it. 
On our return journey, we camped on the Jamjee Eiver, 
which is about eleven and a half miles south of Kericho. I 
panned the river sand there, but only found the usual residue 
of iron, sand, and splinters of a hard black mineral — probably 
magnetite. We revisited Gitoi Cave, and examined rocks 
in the vicinity. The Lumbwa guides gave us information of 
three other caves, which, unfortunately, we had no time to 
visit. 
It is a matter of great regret that the results of the examin- 
ation turn out to be very discouraging from the point of view 
of the discovery of a source for ‘ phosphate ’ for the benefit 
of the agriculture of this country. The percentage of tricalcic 
phosphate turned out to be most variable, and in no case 
did the results come up to the percentage in the original 
specimen. 
It is therefore clear that the beneficial effect, which the 
Lumbwa people declare it has upon their live-stock, is not 
due to the small percentage of phosphate. The avidity with 
which animals devour it is, however, a most striking 
phenomenon, as it is not of saline nature ; the Lumbwa all 
declare that it greatly improves the condition of the cattle. 
The saline mud from most native salt-licks acts as a vermifuge, 
owing to its purgative effect. Careful inquiries were, however, 
made on this point, and the stock-owners all declared that 
it had no appreciable laxative action. 
The chemical investigation, however, discloses the fact 
that it has a considerable neutralising effect on hydrochloric 
acid, and it is therefore suggested by the Analyst that its 
alleged benefit may come from its effect as an anti-acid. It 
would be interesting if some experiments could be carried 
out in the veterinary laboratory on this point. 
