Identifier: lakeregionsofcen00gedd (find matches)
Title: The lake regions of central Africa. A record of modern discovery
Year: 1881 (1880s)
Authors: Geddie, John, 1848-1937
Subjects: Rivers -- Africa Africa, Central -- Description and travel
Publisher: London, New York (etc.) : T. Nelson and Sons
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
cco-manufacturing. With allthese disadvantages, however, it is pleasant to findin one corner at least of Africa a race with both theskill and the inclination to work, and a native in-dustry ready to spring up into large proportions sosoon as it receives a little encouragement. After the Zambesi has been left behind, a greatmountain called Morumbala, four thousand feet inheight, bounds for many miles the view on theright as we ascend the Shire*. Beyond it we reachone of the marshes or old lake-beds which formone of the features of this valley. The boundinglines of hills make each a semicircular curve, andinclose a vast morass, through the centre of whichthe river drains slowly between dripping walls ofsedee and mud. No human inhabitant can dwelliii these impenetrable swamps; but they are farfrom empty of life. Great flights of wild geese,ducks, waders, and other water-fowl abound here inprodigious numbers, and rise from the brake at thenoise of the passing boat or steamer—for already
Text Appearing After Image:
THE SHIRE SWAMPS. 251 steamers have ploughed the waters of the Shire. Cor-morants and fish-hawks patiently watch for theirprey from the top of some tree or shrub that over-hangs the water; or an antelope is seen picking itsway from one oozy island to another. In the streamitself we cannot go far without disturbing the restof some ugly saurian; or a hippopotamus, catchingalarm in time, can be traced crashing its way throughthe reeds to a place of safety. Consul Elton describes his passage of this lake ofmud as a time to be remembered. The countrywas inundated. Far and wide the waters stretchedover the whole flat, from the margin of the hillsbounding the granitic ranges north of Morumbalaaway to the Manganja range on the west, formingan immense expanse, here and there dotted withlines of green rushes and low trees. It was a daywithout a cloud—a company of distant pelicans look-ing like a line of breakers in the bright sunset, Mor-umbala purpling far away against a roseate-tingedsky, o

Note About Images