Through the Semliki Valley 221 
invited us to Kiagode, the Belgian camp about one and a half 
hours’ distant. On the next day we made the acquaintance of 
Lieutenant Weber and the courteous commander of the com¬ 
mission, M. Bastien, who had been staying at the English camp 
on the Semliki, but who had hurried back on hearing of our 
arrival. We stayed there for a few days in most agreeable com¬ 
pany, and had every attention lavished on us. All our desires 
were complied with immediately. 
The camp, which was situated at a high altitude and 
fanned by refreshing breezes, consisted of roomy matete 
dwellings, and was in the province of the young chief Tabaru. 
An opportunity of exchanging greetings with him occurred 
on the day that we arrived, for he met us on the boundary 
of his territory. 
As we intended to visit the British Commission working in 
British territory on the Semliki, we left the Congo State for a 
short period. The Russisi-Kiwu zone was the point of departure, 
and there we bade farewell to Veriter, who returned to Rutschuru. 
For four months he had shared the pleasures and difficulties of 
the expedition, unselfishly furthering our interests, and endear¬ 
ing himself to us all; and his departure left a very considerable 
gap in our circle. 
We started early on the 23rd of February, accompanied by 
Commandant Bastien, and arrived in a few hours at the water¬ 
shed that divides the basins of the Nile and Congo. My amiable 
host left me there, and I rode forward alone with Wiese. We 
soon reached the edge of the mountains which bound the Semliki 
plain, and began to descend the steep road to the river. The 
difference between the oppressive heat there and the cool fresh¬ 
ness of Kiagode was most marked. 
The immense plain, which was very sparsely vegetated, was 
alive with game. Moor antelopes and reed-bucks, detached or in 
herds, gazed across at us. At noon of the 24th we espied the 
extensive British encampment, and only a short time elapsed 
before we were shaking hands with Colonel Bright and the officers 
of his staff, who received us at the head of their military force. 
