21 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
some of them where there was only just room for us 
to pass, we every now and then disturbed in the deep 
shadows large heavy-winged owls, who would alight on 
a pointed rock and stare at us through their big eyes 
with wonder, for we were a greater curiosity to them 
than they were to us. Then we came to a succession of 
places nearly perpendicular, and as smooth as glass, 
worn so by the water with which this deep gorge was 
evidently filled in the rainy season. Four times we had 
to let ourselves down by means of ropes ; the most 
difficult thing to do was to find places to securely fasten 
them. This we did once or twice by jamming a log of 
dry driftwood into a crevice which seemed to have been 
formed for the purpose. Lulu would say, ££ Go on ; I’ll 
follow. You are sure to find what you require, either 
an easy place to climb, or something handy to fasten 
your rope to.” 
At last, after four hours’ hard labour, we reached the 
end of the gorge, and could see the main river flowing 
about forty yards below our feet. There stood a number 
of grand granite towers, seeming to reach to the sky, 
standing like giant sentinels keeping watch and guard 
over this wilderness of rocks, and pointing the way to 
the multitudinous streams that plunged from all direc- 
tions into the deep dark chasm. 
Turning a sharp corner, we came suddenly to a beau- 
tiful waterfall bursting out beneath a rectangular arch, 
formed by two gigantic rocks that had fallen against 
each other, and out of the crevices of which grew dark- 
green trees and shrubs, in beautiful contrast with the 
grey and brown rocks and the snow-white water, as it 
danced from shelf to shelf. 
Lulu was delighted with the grandeur and novelty of 
the scene, and hastened from point to point to select 
the best place from which to get a picture. He was 
some time deciding, for, although there seemed an 
embarras de richesses, he had the true artistic instinct 
that refused to take a group that was not properly 
balanced and artistically composed. 
When he was ready, he pointed to a rock jutting out 
