To Lake Albert Edward 
169 
with a glass the glistening surface of Lake Albert Edward, five 
days' march distant, and the outlines of the snow mountains of 
Ruwenzori some hundred and fifty kilometres away. From here 
the path drops steeply down into the Rutschuru plain. The 
lower one descends, the more luxuriant grows the grass between 
the villages. 
At the foot of the hill, where the post of Rutschuru lies, we 
crossed the wild-rushing River Rutschuru over a passable bridge 
—the only one I had seen until then in the Congo State. A 
broad road led up to the post, at the entrance to which we were 
received by the Commandant Superieur Derche and others, and 
a company of soldiers some 150 strong, who, then and also later 
in the march past, made an excellent impression. 
Rutschuru consists of a small fort with walls and moat, the 
Askari village, 300 metres away, and a few thatched European 
houses. It is the seat of the Chef de zone^ Captain Bandelet 
at that time, and the Chef de secteur^ whose functions during 
our visit were fulfilled by Lieutenant Spiltoir. 
We passed two or three days in most friendly and agreeable 
hospitality, and then we were obliged to push forward in the 
little-visited district of the northern Rutschuru valley. By easy 
marches through the perfectly level plain we arrived at 
Maji ja moto (“Hot water”), which owes its name to the hot 
springs which gush out of the rocks. The water is exceedingly 
hot, the highest temperature taken by Kirschstein being 90 degrees 
Celsius. According to our analysis it appeared to be a fairly 
pure carbonate of soda water with a slight alkaline taste. A 
smell of sulphuretted hydrogen was very noticeable. Ferrying 
over the Semliki was not devoid of danger, for the current rushed 
along so furiously that it was impossible to keep a boat in 
position. We were consequently compelled to fasten long ropes 
to the nose and the stern-post of the dug-out and construct a 
sort of flying ferry. The pressure of the water against the side 
of the boats was so great that they often lurched dangerously 
and were in peril of capsizing; each contained about six people 
and their loads, 
w 
