LAKE CALA. 
i6 5 
string of some four hundred natives, when we were 
within a few miles of the Simba camp, and curiously 
enough each one of us decided to display our valour, 
to its best advantage, by discreetly squatting in the long- 
grass and allowing them to pass without exhibiting the 
slightest sign of interest. Had we indulged in a native 
curiosity, at the expense of a national proverbial philo¬ 
sophy, I think Ave should have merely exchanged greet¬ 
ings with a party of Wa-rhombu returning from cut¬ 
ting grass, for they were in the habit of venturing out 
in large parties, lest they should encounter some of the 
Useri people, with whom they were on hostile terms. 
After resting for one night, at Simba camp, we started 
again for Taveta, C-and I making a slight detour, 
by climbing the lower slopes of Kilima-njaro, which 
enabled us to visit the curious subterranean Lake Cala. 
No sooner had we ascended the low hills encircling: its 
eastern shore than we were rewarded by a glorious 
view. At least a thousand feet below us nestled the 
lovely little lake, somewhat triangular in shape and 
from one and a half to two miles in its widest diameter, 
completely embedded among hills and cliffs—a basin 
in which the great Masai mountain god could always 
wash his hands. From our position its shores appeared 
inaccessible, but the natives declared a descent was 
practicable in one or two places. Below the rocky 
cliffs, beautifully wooded slopes, of varied hues, 
appear to rise abruptly from the deep blue of the lake, 
whose surface is unruffled by a single ripple. Fish 
were said to be abundant, and Jackson told me he 
