The Country Spreads Before Me A Lovely Valley Encompassed
By Purple-Blue Mountains.
Mount Talagouga looks splendid in a soft,
infinitely deep blue, although it is quite close, just the other
side of the river.
The road goes on into the valley, as pleasantly
as ever and more so. How pleasant it would be now, if our
government along the Coast had the enterprise and public spirit of
the French, and made such roads just on the remote chance of stray
travellers dropping in on a steamer once in ten years or so and
wanting a walk. Observe extremely neatly Igalwa built huts, people
sitting on the bright clean ground outside them, making mats and
baskets. "Mboloani," say I. "Ai! Mbolo," say they, and knock off
work to stare. Observe large wired-in enclosures on left-hand side
of road - investigate - find they are tenanted by animals - goats,
sheep, chickens, etc. Clearly this is a jardin d'acclimatation. No
wonder the colony does not pay, if it goes in for this sort of
thing, 206 miles inland, with simply no public to pay gate-money.
While contemplating these things, hear awful hiss. Serpents! No,
geese. Awful fight. Grand things, good, old-fashioned, long skirts
are for Africa! Get through geese and advance in good order, but
somewhat rapidly down road, turn sharply round corner of native
houses. Turkey cock - terrific turn up. Flight on my part forwards
down road, which is still going strong, now in a northerly
direction, apparently indefinitely.
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