168 A SAIL UPON THE ALBERT LAKE.

larger Duéru—flows principally towards the east side, so that the detritus and sediment which those rivers bring with them in suspension are deposited on the west side of the lake. In the case before us, this process is largely aided by a projecting point behind the island arresting the rain, and facilitating its precipitation. From what I have observed of the lake, 1 am inclined to believe that the flat shore on the west is gradually encroaching upon its waters; in other words, the lake is in this part gradually filling up.

The chief of the whole district of Mahagi is my old acquaintance Songa, a trusty and reliable man, who came to pay me a visit late in the evening. On receiving a few small presents, he made many apologies for coming empty-handed; my arrival had taken him completely by surprise. All Negroes must not be set down as drunken good-for-nothings and beggars. The entire population of the west shore, from Okello’s village, Fanigoro, right down to the recently subjugated land of Mboga, acknowledges the supremacy of Kabréga. This prince maintains relations of close intercourse with the several chiefs of this region by sending them from time to time small presents of Zanzibar cloth, or a few pieces of finer bark cloth, which is imported from Uganda, and is greatly esteemed in this country. In return for these presents the subject chiefs do not, apparently, render any fixed services, but in Kabréga’s last war against Uganda they gave him great assistance by sending supplies of arrows, lances, and shields. Kabréga has also, on occasion, complied with the request of the Luri chiefs, and sent some of his men across the lake to aid them in making raids into Londu, over on the other side of the hills.

Mahagi is an exceptionally healthy place, and is particularly well adapted for gardening and agriculture. The abundance of water in the neighbourhood would greatly facilitate irrigation. Yor the present I have left only very few people there, but I intend shortly to establish a permanent station. Unfortunately, the steep ascent and the impassable nature of the bordering mountain chains make communication with the districts to the west very difficult, but possibly a more accessible pass may exist farther to the south.

For two days past, the aneroid had indicated an abnormal