fence. It was a real pleasure to be in a house once more,
though what with the numerous fleas which ^ disputed the
possession of the' house with me, and the singing of t e
LEAR OF WILD COTTON PLANT GROWING IN THE VILLAGE OF ARURA.
soldiers outside, my night was rather disturbed, and sleeping
in a house was not, I found, the unalloyed luxury I had
expected it to be. ■
Next morning was given up to an examination of the
surrounding country. The temperature on March 4 and 5
was as follows—
In the Shade.
March 4. March 5.
6 a.m. (M’Pekatoni), 76° 6 a.m. (M’Kumbi), 71“
10 a.m. 8i°
1 p.m. .91°
6 p.m. (M’Kumbi), 8o° 3 p.m. 8o°
A shallow river flows round the back of the stockade, and
from it a supply of excellent water is obtained. It was then
very low, with pools here and there only, but it never dried
up entirely.
Following the river, which flows through an undulating
plain, I found that it gradually grew wider and shallower,
until it was lost in a long swamp extending to the north and
north-west, which it evidently drains. Looking away to the
west and south-west one gazed on the open grassy plain, with
its scattered mango trees, Hyphaene and fan palm clumps;
to the north-west and north-east on thick Hyphaene palm
woods ; to the eastward on ,a grass plain. A small arm of
the swamp ran out to the south-west, ending in a shallow
basin, which gradually merged into the surrounding plain.
Continuing onwards for some time longer over a low flat
country, evidently flooded in the wet season, and passing
occasional clumps of Borassus palm, I came upon a large
dry swamp extending from the south-west to north to northeast.
Here Flurried back, the small escort I had taken with
me being insufficient if We came upon some of the rebel forces
qf Fumo Omari.
In retracing my steps I followed a south-east direction
through a fine rich country, with greener grass and much
thicker undergrowth, the soil being a good light grey loam ;
the same characteristics of country appeared to extend to the
north-east and east. Game was reported to be very plentiful
about here in the wet season. I now came upon a thick
palm wood extending up to the M’Kumbi river, from which I
emerged close to the stockade. The river here is from 90 to