Geographical Notes

Abstract

BEFORE starting on his journey from Lake Nyanza to Lake Tanganyika, which we have previously referred to, Mr. J., Stewart, of Livingstonia, spent some time in examining the country on the west of the upper portion of the former lake. He started from Kaningina, and crossed the mountain of the same name at an elevation of about 5,000 feet. After a visit to Chipatula's village he entered Mombera's territory in the Kasitu Valley, and shortly reached the junction of the Kasitu with the Rikuru, which comes from the west through a wild and mountainous country. The valley of the Rikuru north of the junction is called Ntanta, and is exceedingly fertile; the elevation is about 3,700 feet, and the climate is cool and pleasant. Here Mr. Stewart noticed an important change in the geological formation, the granite and quartz giving place to soft shale and clay schists; and he is of opinion that the Kasitu forms the geological boundary, and that it runs in the trough of some great fault or nonconformity in the formation. Ten miles further north regularly stratified beds of hard, dark grey sandstone were met with. The Rikuru Valley, which Mr. Stewart thought would have taken him gradually down to the lake-level, is at its north end blocked by hills forming the lake coast, and the river flows through winding-precipitous valleys, falling 2,000 feet in the last fifteen miles. The water enters the gorge clear and sparkling, and leaves it heavily laden with bluish clay silt, which is visible far into the lake. Mr. Stewart reached the lake at the mouth of this river in S. lat. 10° 45′ 15″. Marching northwards, he visited Mount Waller, which he examined thoroughly, and then, after keeping inland for four days, arrived at the Kambwe lagoon, his starting-point for Lake Tanganyika. The country from Mount Waller to this place is very poor, consisting of swamp and hard clay plain, broken here and there by dry gravel ridges, and occupied chiefly by large game.