BRIDGE ISLAND.
107
sence of man, probably fisbermtu or fugitives from the mainland. Judging
from what I observed of the sIo^kís of this extremity of Ugeyeya, I should
say that much of this portion is uninhabited. Rounding the point that
confronts the island of Ugingo, we %*assed between two more uninhabited
islands, and then the dome-like hills of Wakuneh burst upon our view.
Our impression of the land on this side was that it was a pastoral country,
and more thickly populated, for smoke curled more frequently from above
depressions and sheltered positions.
BRinOE I8LA5T).
At evening we camped on Bridge Island, so named from a natural bridge
of basaltic rock which fonus an irregular arch of about 24 feet in length by
about 12 feet in depth, and under which we were able to pass from one side
of the island to the other. The island is covered with brush-wood and tall
grass, and in the interstices of the rocks, where the vegetable deposit was of
great depth, grew several fine mangroves. The height is about 50 feet above
the lake, and from its summit we obtained a fine view of Ugingo Island,
brooding in its gloomy solitude, and of the steep and high ranges of Ugeyeya,
with the level plains of Wagausu and Wigassi extending eastward. To the
West stretched an ap^xirently boundless sea, its face ruffled by a strong
breeze, and farther northward still loomed upward unknown lands, their
contour broken now by rounded domes and again by sharp cones.
The numlx‘1 of islands encountered next day proved so troublesome to us
that we were compelled to creep cautiously along the shore. As we neared
Nakidimo, we observed the water change from its usual clear grey colour to
that of a rich brown, and, seeing a creek close by, felt fully assured that we