Arrived At Our Camping, We Were
Immediately Pounced Upon By A Deputation Of Officers, Who Said
They Had Been Sent By Semamba, The Officer Of This District.
He
lived ten miles from the road; but hearing of our approach, he
had sent these men to take his dues.
At first I objected to pay,
lest he should afterwards treat me as Virembo had done; but I
gave way in the end, and paid nine wires, two chintz and two
bindera cloths, as the guides said they would stand my security
against any further molestation.
Rattling on again as merry as larks, over the same red sandstone
formation, we entered a fine forest, and trended on through it as
a stiff pace until we arrived at the head of a deep valley called
Lohuati, which was so beautiful we instinctively pulled up to
admire it. Deep down its well-wooded side below us was a stream,
of most inviting aspect for a trout-fisher, flowing towards the
N'yanza. Just beyond it the valley was clothed with fine trees
and luxuriant vegetation of all descriptions, amongst which was
conspicuous the pretty pandana palm, and rich gardens of
plantains; whilst thistles of extraordinary size and wild indigo
were the more common weeds. The land beyond that again rolled
back in high undulations, over which, in the far distance, we
could see a line of cones, red and bare on their tops, guttered
down with white streaks, looking for all the world like recent
volcanoes; and in the far background, rising higher than all,
were the rich grassy hills of Karague and Kishakka.
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