the lay of the land was more level, and nearly the whole of
the way was through fine forest country with many wild
cycads. Coming out on the high ridge above Konjora I
descended, as before, a very steep path leading to the small
ridge above the sea-creek.
I halted here to rest my people and to get water, and then
was off" again to M’Tanganiko, one hour distant, where, after
some stiff" climbs up the ridges, I duly arrived, to leàrn that
Salim bin Hamisi was- there. I walked over to his house
to call on him and had an interesting conversation. He .was
most cordial, and presented me with a fat sheep. He had just
heard that the Uganda Railway Survey caravan had arrived in
'Mombasa, all well. He desired me to tell the Administrator
with his salaams and respects that he was ready to furnish
men for railway work if'required. -
I started off again at 1.30 p.m., now marching' through—
to me— quite unknown country.
The river flowing, through this valley was, I was told, not
the Kilifi, but the N’Zovoni river. This river, and another
flowing from Fuladoyo (shown on the maps as Voi) meet at
M’Tanganiko, and both fall into the Kilifi creek.
The N’Zovoni river" is'said to be a large stream flowing
through the' Giryama country, with a depth of 4 to 5 feet in
the wet season, but'drying up in the hot weather, -When only
occasional pools are found in the hollows of the rocks forming
its bed. IT enters Kilifi creek through a narrow'opehing at
the top of the valley. Following the path, I passed, through
numerous Wa-Kahomo clearings, and over flat rich valleys and
low ridges, getting an occasional glimpse of the N’ZovOni river,
which I was told flows through this part of the country for
some distance ahead. A t 3 p.m. I came upon the very large
native village, Kaya-Kohomo, which is the chief village' of the
Wa-Kahomo people and about six.to seven miles’ distance from
M’Tanganiko. Mr. Burt, the missionary from Jelori, was
camped here on one of his proselytizing tours, so I halted
for the night.
I went down to look at the N’Zovoni river flowing close by ;
it' was now narrow and shallow, but the péople told me that
during the Tains the volume of water was very much increased.