Chapter IV. 
chain from north to south, and crossing the lower course of 
the valleys and torrents which run down from the ridges. 
The country is fertile and well-watered, but very sparsely 
cultivated excepting in the neighbourhood of Fort Portal. 
The population is wretched and unhealthy looking. The path, 
now a mere track, now widening out into a road, is in many 
places a true mountain trail, which would be extremely 
fatiguing and even difficult were it not kept up with great 
care. Natives are to be met at every step, especially women 
and old men, employed in mending and weeding it. The 
women, as usual, carry their babies on their back or at their 
breast and keep their larger children by them. Children 
and adults are absolutely naked, or else wear rags or skins 
around the loins. The women adorn themselves with bracelets 
or, lacking these, tie rings of twisted banana leaves round their 
O' o 
arms and ankles. 
The way between Fort Portal and the Mobuku Valley was 
traversed in three stages, After leaving the European station 
the path first descends over the wide road of the Mpango 
Valiev and crosses the river on a wooden bridge. Next, it 
ascends to the Iioyal Hill, where King Kasagama, surrounded 
by his whole court, waited for H.P.H. Another brief halt was 
made at Notre-Dame de la Neige to take leave of the courteous 
Fathers of the French Mission. Tall hedges run on either side 
of the path, which winds between numerous huts scattered 
in fields of pease, millet, sweet potatoes and tobacco, and 
extensive plantain groves. 
The way now led south-west, making straight for the 
mountains. Low hills were crossed by easy slopes, and four 
hours brought the expedition to Duwona camp, which stands 
against the foot of the mountain among blossoming euphorbia 
106 
