148 AN EXCURSION TO LUR.

western shore the soundings only gave us fifteen to twenty feet; they proved that the bottom is mostly covered with deep black vegetable mould, whilst here it is of a very tough reddish clay. The voyage from Magtngo to this place occupied four hours nine minutes, of which twenty-eight minutes were required between Magungo and the doléb palms, that is to say, on the river proper. On leaving Magungo the aneroid read 27.62 in. (temp. 72° Fahr.) Here it gave 27.56 in.(75.1° Fahr.) The little station of Mahagi is surrounded by luxuriant cornfields ; behind it rise steep high mountains in a long chain, having on the whole a direction from N.E.to$.W. The high Jebel Eruku closes the panorama towards the south, whilst towards the east the mist-covered lake appeared to have no bounds. What les towards the west behind the mountains is only known from native reports.

Toa, a large village belonging to Chief Sonda, lies near the station, and thither my first excursion was directed. The huts are built as in Unydro, by constructing an almost dome-shaped skeleton of pliable branches and rods. This is supported from within by a number of straight posts, generally standing in rows, and the front part is raised and arched over, forming a porch. The whole is then covered with a thick layer of long erass, coming down to the ground. These huts, if large enough, leave nothing to be desired as regards neatness, comfort, and coolness ; they can be divided into separate compartments by reed walls, and furnished with sleeping-places, &c. The fireplace is almost always in the middle; the bed for the master of the house is placed in a corner, a kind of fixed bedstead being made, of short posts, with cross pieces of wood, over which are spread hides and bark cloths. Gourd vessels of all shapes and dimensions, black earthen vessels of a round and usually hemispherical form, and mats of straw and bast form the only furniture. Here and there bundles of seed, tobacco, and pulse are hung up, neatly wrapped in broad leaves. Beside the chief’s huts, which are distinguished by their greater size and a smooth level fore-court for dancing, made of cowdung and mud, there usually stand one or two diminutive empty huts, the only preceptible religious symbols. Trees covered with hunting trophies are not to be found, but here and there