and many small villages. There were one or two small
Giryama clearings near the Mission houses and settlements.-
Near the water’s edge the soil was a stiff clay ; higher up,
a stiff tenacious, black loam; while beyond the borders of
the lake it became more friable. I discovered later on that
in the wet season the northern end of the lake and the
Sabaki -are connected by a channel through which the river
flows into the lake, and at the same time floods the low-
lying land between it and Sekoki Hill, forming an extensive
sheet of water 5 to 6 feet deep. The only means of communication
between Jelori and Melindi is then by the Mission canoe.
In the dry season this low-lying flat, with its rich, deep, loamy
soil, is extensively cultivated by the Wa-Giryama.
Mr. Hooper informed me that the people had two cultivating
seasons,- one in the S.W. monsoon at the beginning of
the year, and the second during the N.E. rains. In the
afternoon of my second day at Jelori I went to return the visit
of an important Giryama head-man who had been to see me.
I struck off by a path leading to the Sabaki, passing two
smaller lakes (alive with hippos), one on the right hand and the
other on the left, and through gently undulating country with
big trees and excellent black soil. I then came upon a third
lake connected with the Sabaki by -a deep natural channel.
The banks of thè Sabaki, which I followed for a short distance,
were cultivated by the Wa-Giryama with patches of Indian corn,
sweet potatoes, and tobacco, though the isoil, a fine sandy loam,
is evidently flooded in the wet season. The north bank was
flat and low, and covered with deep white sand left by the last
flood. Beyond this, as far as could be seen— up to Magarini
Hill, which was distinctly visible to the N.E.— the country was
very flat and entirely covered with bush. Water could easily
be diverted by channels from the river into the plain beyond,
and the extended development and cultivation of the latter
secured by a proper system of irrigation. I was informed that
there was a direct path known to the Wanika from Jelori to
Magarini Hill, over which I subsequently travelled.
Our path now led through fine forest and by some large
Giryama clearings. These people apparently clear only the
undergrowth, killing the large trees by heaping up the dry
brushwood and firing i t ; and the appearance of these clearings,
with so many charred trees left standing, was most
unsightly, - .
I now came upon a large flat: area evidently flooded by
the Sabaki in wet weather, with some very fine tobacco and
Indian corn growing, and finally arrived at th e ' Giryama
village of Kisomba, one of the largest r o u n d Jelon. 1
held a “ shauri” with the chief, Kizpmba (a Giryama village
generally takes its name from the head-man), and the
principal people, telling them I had come into their country
to see how its resources could be developed, that I was. ready
to give them seeds of new products, and wanted the head-men
of'the villages round Jelori to come to my camp, where I
would have a shauri with them and explain everything. My
remarks were well received.
I returned by the back of Kizomba village by another road,
passing through fairly good forest, amongst which I noticed
a good many cacti and Hyphaene palms; also a good many
aloes (Sansevieria species) called “ n konge. re °
the latter is much used by the Wa-Giryama for making ropes
and fastenings of all kinds. We passed a good many new y-
burned clearings in the forest/which the Giryama ,were
preparing for the coming N.E. rains. All this forest land
had fine black soil. I arrived at my camp late m the afternoon,
well pleased with the results of my expedition.
Next morning I went off with Selim in quest of hippo.
Baba, the Melindi head-man, came With us, but he was of no
use, as he lingered behind unwilling to follow us through the
long grass, so we got a Giryama to show us the way. He led
us over the flat, through thick high grass, and through deep
black oozy mud to the edge of the lake.
As there was no shelter, Selim made a screen of sticks and
grasses. I saw three hippos with their heads out of the
water, one a very large one, and another with a young one
on its back. When they perceived us they made an awful
row, snorting and bellowing, but keeping well out of range;
we sat waiting on the wet mud for nearly two hours, ut to
no purpose. On turning away, 1 saw three or four large
crocodiles sunning themselves a little way o f f I sta e one