26 FROM MAGUNGO TO MRULL suit of the chase, are certainly not required. Only one who has had any direct dealings with negroes, and has been dependent upon them for the transport of goods, the supply of provisions, &c.; who has seen and experienced the glowing sun and the fever-exhaling swamps of this territory ; who knows what it is to be for long years shut out from all society, and to dispense with the most ordinary comforts of life, can form a true estimate of what Gordon Pasha accomplished here. He was obliged, moreover, to create for himself the material with which to do his work—and upon negroes he had to rely!

In pouring rain we descended the steep hill of Kistga, and passed the saddle-back where last year, when engaged upon a peaceable exploration, we were first greeted by the volleys of Kabréga’s bodyguard, a greeting which was often our portion during a three days’ tedious march through the almost impenetrable grass and bush. We then entered again into high grass, above which the long branches of the eriodendron towered aloft in scattered groups. The Bassia Parkiw, which we previously saw so often, has become very rare during the last few days. Besides the red castle-ike ant-hills we saw along this part of the road another kind of structure, specimens of which stand along the path like huge grey mushrooms. ‘The path seems to be much frequented by elephants, for we found newly broken-down trees scattered about; but no animals of any kind were to be seen. The high grass became eradually replaced by open park land and very beautiful scenery ; the broad, well-dried path upon the red clayey ground often expanded into small open places, the borders of which were framed with short turf; trees and bushes formed themselves into groups, the red blooming canna being everywhere abundant. Here and there in rocky ground, depressions formed natural reservoirs for clear rain-water. The descent from Kistga to Mrili was very considerable.

During the last part of the route two species of mimosa were added to the already far too numerous thorns and prickles, the one with yellowish green bark and long snow-white thorns, the other one, well known through Schweinfurth, the Acacia fistula (Arabic, Um Suffara), with snow-white vesiculate thorns and white bark, giving to the tree a very peculiar and unique