The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume IX, No. 4 [‎198v] (67/172)

384 TWO YEARS’ TRAVEL IN UGANDA, UNYORO, AND ON THE UPPER NILE.
Lekonge, about 7 miles north-west of Eldoma ravine station. At
this time I had fifty men with me, and was much hampered by having
to carry two sick men on stretchers. It was nearly dark, and the
prospect of having to spend the night in the forest without water was
not a nice one. There was great delight among the Zanzibaris when
they recognized the spot, as I think they had long given up the idea of
ever reaching the road.
We reached Eldoma the next day, November 24, where Mr. Martin
had built a very strong fort, situated on a hill not far from the ravine,
from which, on a fine day, Lake Baringo can be seen Hashing in the sun
light, and a lovely view obtained across to the Leikipia range. There
is a very fine waterfall at the east end of the ravine, which divides into
two channels. This was the furthest point the soldiers had yet been from
their native country. This district is now under Mr. Jackson, who was
for so long acting commissioner after Colonel Colvile left. A great
quantity of food has been planted, and Masai are being induced to settle
round. The opening up of the Nandi country will make a great
difference to this station, as it is only two days to the fertile Sagane
valley, where quantities of food can be obtained. The headquarters
of a company of Sudanese are stationed here, under Hussein Aga. Our
return journey was much easier, owing to the road being cut through
the forest, and I was soon able to rejoin the main column at Mitele, to
the joy of my men, who were glad to leave the bleak and inhospitable
Mau plateau and bask in the sunshine again. Just before the descent
the sun came out, and a lovely panorama unfolded itself. Looking
down over the dark green forest, which extends and becomes thicker to
the south, the different valleys could be distinctly tiaced leading to the
great plain ; the rugged hills near Usun showed up plainly in the fore
ground, and over them again the waters of the Victoria Nyanza. The
next day we climbed up to the top of the range of hills known as
I inderait, and travelled across an open and very hilly country inhabited
by the Wa Nandi. We were much delayed by small streams and rivers
running down from the mountains, and we eventually camped on the
third day close under the Endubo mountain, on a range running down
towards the valley of the Nyando river, called by the Masai Kedowa, or
Merto. There were a few people living on the mountains close, but this
is about their limit, and there were no houses in the plain south or
towards the lake. It is 59 miles from here to Lake Nakuro, and the
Masai with us said there was a fairly good track over the mountains,
and that it was open until the descent through forest on the further
side. I fancy this Lack would bring one out close to the Guaso Masai
river, and of course, if it could be used, it would shorten the route from
the East Coast to Lake Victoria very considerably, as there is no difficulty
in t>omg along the Nyando valley to Ugowe bay, where there is a