XVIII 
MINERALS 
*79 
than 30 square miles. In a normal condition it appear 
as if it has frozen, and that then snow has fallen, that 
the snow has then partially thawed and frozen solid 
again, giving that surface which all English skaters 
know to their disgust. The temperature gives the 
lie to this appearance of ice, as the heat is extreme, and 
on the lake in mid-day almost unbearable. The soda 
burns the feet right through a boot, and the crystalline 
spikes, for all the world like hoar-frost, will pierce any 
but the thickest sole. After the rains there is a layer 
of water over the greater part of the lake which turns 
a lovely pink colour, giving the whole a wonderfully 
beautiful appearance. By moonlight the scene is most 
weird and never to be forgotten. It appears at such a 
time as if one was looking at an arm of the sea on 
which one can almost swear to a gentle swell. 
Another 60 miles further to the east is another and 
much larger soda lake, Lake Natron, the great bulk of 
which is in German territory. The soda deposit in 
this is of a very inferior quality, and there is a much 
greater proportion of mud and water. At the time I 
visited it, its shores were the haunt of almost innumer¬ 
able buffalo, lion, and antelope, and its waters of quite 
innumerable flamingoes, herons, ibis, and other birds. 
N 2 
