WAGANDA PORTERS. 29 be compared with their giant sisters growing farther north between latitudes 8° and 10°.

The porters having been twice permitted to take a short rest, the rapid march continued. The Waganda are splendid, indefatigable porters. Following the sound of the drums which called to us, we arrived early at our night’s quarters, consisting of several huts surrounded by plantations of sweet potatoes, a solanum with edible red berries of the size of ' cherries, and some bananas. ‘The place is called Btuti, and belongs to Kabrega. From there to our next night quarters, Kyivambiri, was a hard march of over eight hours, rendered more difficult by enormous pools of water extending far and wide over the gently undulating land, and fringed by small.

date palms. No attempt at cultivation breaks the everlasting monotony of swamp, water, and Cyperus grass. No house invites the stranger to enter and rest a while. Groups of euphorbias and mimosas form the only relief to the swampy land covered with tall grass, in which thousands of black and white striped mosquitoes hold their concerts. The night was not rendered more comfortable by the occurrence of two thunderstorms at an interval of three hours from one another ; and we were glad when, early in the morning, after the usual delays, the march was recommenced. At the beginning of a march every one tries to seize upon the lightest load; many endeavour, by hiding themselves, to avoid their duties altogether. When, however, after long debates, accompanied by the personal intervention of the chief, the people get the luggage once divided, then there can be found no better porters or more enduring than the Waganda. Boys of ten or twelve years of age carry loads bigger than themselves.

The water stood everywhere knee-deep upon the perfectly level plain, thickly grown with grasses. A path eighteen inches or two feet broad led us through this chaos of water and mud. Where elephants had used it, their visits were plainly indicated by holes, into which we sometimes fell. We saw troops of elephants and small herds of buffaloes at a distance from the road, enjoying themselves in the mud. If our caravan approached them the buffaloes rushed madly away, kicking up the water behind them, whereas the elephants