104 
THROUGH THE DARK CONTINENT 
a good day’s work, though we still clung to the shore of Ukerewé near 
enough to note clearly the features of the water-line. A glance at the 
country of Ukerewé showed it to be exceedingly populous and exten 
sively cultivated. From Matembé to Yambuyah extends a bold rid<^e 
about 300 feet above the lake, and beyond this ix)int is a deep indentation, 
called Ukwya, near the western horn of which we perceived a group of 
islets named Kisegi. These are the haunts of an immense number of croco 
diles, and one nest discovered here contained fifty-eight eggs. At almost 
every step I took, when walking round one of the reed-lined islets, a speci 
men of the ugly Saurian tribe sprang with a startling rush into the lake, 
ihere appeared also to be as many monitors as there wore crocodiles in this 
infested islet, and all round me, from the little creeks, and sometimes in very 
close proximity, lowed the hippoiwtami. I shot one of the monitors, and it 
measured 7 feet from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail. One of the 
.oat s crew skinned it, but, not having means or time to preserve it, we were 
finally compelled to abandon our tr^ure. Being extremely keen-eyed and 
ogi e m Its movements, the monitor is a valuable auxiliary to the more 
inc o en crocodile, which it wakes frequently from slumber, and by its im 
pe uous rush at sight ot the intruder saves it from becoming a prey to the 
lun r. n return for its services the greater monster furnishes it with many a 
t e icious meal on its eggs. The enormous number of smaller lizards, skinks, 
a.K gee os, which these islets also sustain, prove that the monitors have 
abundant means of supplies. 
From here we sailed round the coast of Wiru, and leaving aliout four miles 
Mandl ai l! ^1*“'“'^^ «Peered N.N.W. Mag. for the Irangara 
islands, at the north-western extremity of Ukerewé, the shore presenting to our 
view iroug lout only a low hill range clothed with woods. Leaving Iran^^ara 
.he Victoria «f 
past the Kamassi and Kindevi islets, we rounded the hilly 
., asonga,and beheld on our right, as far as Sbizu Island, a broad bay, 
.bouii e y a crescent-shaped ridge, springing some 300 feet above the lake, 
llÚmTonleí ^nd populous island of 
’ P. P. ^ intensely superstitious colony, who cherish the most 
devout faith in charms and witchcraft. 
As we rWe past Shizu Island, w'e beheld the table-topped mountain of 
Majita risin^, massive and grand, to the eastward. On the 16th of March we 
encamped on one of the bird-rocks about three miles from the base of Majita, 
which rises probably between 2000 and 3000 feet above the lake. From the 
• Out of respect to the memory of Captain Speke, I leave the word Nyanza as he 
spelled It, adding only the explanation that none but the Arabs and Wangwana pro 
nounce it N yanza. All the native tribes and nations round the lake pronounce it 
either Nee-yanja or Kee-yanza, Niyanja or Niyanza.