30 FROM MRULI TO RUBAGA.

retired at a short trot. Very noticeable were the swarms of small butterflies which flew round us in the middle of the swamps, often alighting upon our hands. ‘Throughout this swamp land small patches of higher ground form occasional islands. They are thickly covered by low mimosas, and many of them are crowned with groups of gneiss blocks some ten feet in height. One wonders how it is possible for them to have found their way into the middle of this level swamp land.

So we marched on through thick and thin, and when I remarked to the leaders that they might let us halt for the day, as the porters must be tired by wading through the mud, I was told that our quarters for the night were quite near. It turned out, however, that they were at least three hours distant, which will give an idea of the Waganda’s marching powers— when they do march.

At last the country commenced to rise slightly, the red clayey ground being covered by a dense wood of prickly mimosas; and a large, well-cared-for banana grove, in which there were many nice huts, provided us with a halting-place for the night. As usual, the entire population of the village had fled, with bag and baggage, on our approach, leaving us only the empty huts. The banana grove, however, was full of fruit, and quantities of ripe durrah, maize, and Sorghwm saccharatum, as well as sweet potatoes, furnished a rich table, to which, after the fatigues of the march, we did full justice. During the day we had had heavy showers, but in the night it poured in torrents, and when we started early next morning the clouded sky looked very threatening.

As far as the eye can reach, level lightly wooded ground stretched out before us. It was covered in many places by mud and puddles of water, but the dry patches were more numerous than the day before. The soil for the most part was a grey clay, abounding in vegetable débris, and overlying the thick stratum of red ferruginous clay which extended far and near. On our arrival at the Dubenge marsh, the waters of which flow off to the river Ergugu, a short halt was necessary in order to make our swamp toilets. All strictly unnecessary clothes, together with the hundred and one small impedimenta which a traveller requires every moment on