Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-18

which forms the western boundary OF the
valley. We stopped there lost in admiration
OF the beauty and in wonder at the char
acter Of the valley until the donkeys sud
denly took fright and bolted down the
slope"
FEATURES OF THE RIFT.
From Doctor Gregory's explorations
throughout the long weeks that followed, he
came to the conclusion that the portion OF
Rift valley which he had first entered was
formerly occupied by lake which had long
since disappeared. He travelled back and
forth across the floor OF the valley, and
penetrated on the north as far as lake
Baringo. In a general sort OF way RIFT val
ley is cleft In a vast volcanic plateau, and
II is Doctor Gregory's belief that this plat
eau exhibits a peculiar type Of land maxi
ing Its origin Is due, he thinks, to a vast
plateau" eruption, as he is pleased to term
II. For example, a considerable portion OF
the Italian peninsula has been formed or at
least overlaid by lava flows from Vesuviua
and Aetna, while the great lava beds OF
America and the Deccan traps OF India are
probably due to what are known as assure
eruptions, where huge crack or rent has
been made in the earth's crust and the lava
has boiled up through this. The con-
formation of the East African plateau
seems to indicate that the whole region
was at one time burst through by an in
Vulnerable series OF small nssures-in other
words, that the country very much resem-
bled the meshes of a colossal sieve, with
the lava pouring up from beneath. Doctor
Gregory estimates the extent of these fields
as something in the neighborhood OF 200 000
square miles.
1t must have been aeons of time after.
ward that the great fault" of Rift valley
was made, since its bold and preciptous
sides stand out In the clear desert air
almost as II they had been formed but yes
terday. Further, the apparently absolute
absence OF any fossils OF marine origin tells
that here at least it is not probable that
the sea ever penetrated
Yet another curious feature OF this
mysterious region are the block" noun
tains. These seem to have been formed
through some convulsion. by which the whole
of the surrounding land had suddenly sunk
away, leaving a single portion supported as
II upon a pedestal The strata of rock lie
horizontal and as little disturbed apparently
as If there had been no stupendous sub
sidence OF the surrounding country.
INHABITED BY SAVAGE TRIBES.
AS might be supposed this wild region is
only scantily populated and then only by
savage tribes. The most formidable of the
latter are the Somali, who dwell in the
lower portions. They are a warlke and
aggressive race who make life anything but
lures to invade their country. The floor Of
the Great Rift valley, proper, however, is
occupied by the Njempsians, whose character
Is that of trustful friendliness and sim
pliclty. Many of them are agriculturists
the body OF the population having abandoned
the nomadic life OF their ancestors. So peace
full are they that one can walk about
their country unarmed and unattended, and
chase butterflies or stalk zebras with as lit
tie fear as II one were rambling through
English lanes. The country moreover liz
usually rich in food and caravans refill
their empty sacks for the journey northward
over the foodless waste that must be
traversed in order to reach the ivory-yield-
ing district OF Sambaru. But they are print
tive in the extreme. The author quotes Kip
ling for a description Of the costume Of the
natives.
The uniform e wore
Was nothing much before,
And little less than 'alf o. that behind,
For piece o. twisty rag
And n goatslSin water bag
Was all the field equipment e could find.
The main difference In the costume OF Kip
ling's hero and that Of the Njempsians was
the absence of any piece OF rag, twisty or
otherwise Gregory gave to his guides
few hands of cottoncloth by way OF re-
payment, and also In the hope that they
might wear a part OF It, But the Njemp-
SLAMS were far too prudent They pointed
out that IL worn the cloth would get dirty
and crumpled; moreover the thorns would
tear II; while neither dirt nor scratches
would matter on their skins Nor did they
need clothes for the sake of pockets, for
they carried their chief impediments,
toothpick and a quid OF tobacco, In the ex-
banded lobes OF their left ears. The cloth,
therefore, was left safely at home in Njemps.
The only weapons of the natives were
bows and arrows and Gregory's guides
at least were appallingly bad shots. The
-. -
slams are as simple as their personal adorn-
ments. They can only count up to five
and have no idea OF distance. Everything
not in sight was "loqua" Qar on. But
they were splendid walkers and did not
know the meaning of fatigue. They have
the morals of a child OF and appettes
in proportion. One OF Gregory's guides
could eat three roast ducks straight off
before his eyes, and then declare he was
dying OF starvation. He was easily terror
lied, but on the other hand, he would lie
by the yard.
NOT AN INVITING REGION.
The country is hardly adaptable as a
summer resort, since 1t is not only under
the burning sun of the equator but 1t is
infested with dense swarms of flies. which
would quite blacken the roof OF tent. The
hies however were harmless in comparison
with the mosquitoes. which rose like
heavy mist from the marshes Immediately
AFTER sunset. AROUND Lake BaTlnBO lneTe
was animal life in abundance, schools Of
focks OF wild fowl and fish-eating birds and
flocks of wild fowl and flre-eating birds and
crocodiles In countless profusion. The latter
occur in such enormous numbers that they
lie In huddled, jostling crowds. They do
not seem dangerous, however, and appeared
frightened at the presence Of the hunters.
All sorts Of malaria and disease Turk In
these regions and Gregorys party suffered
many losses in this regard. This character
of the country comes from the profusion OF
marsh-like lakes, which are in turn fed
by the great glaciers, that even under the
equator abound. Lest this seem curious,
1t is to be said that the plateau in which
Rift valley occurs is in itself upward
of 5000 feet above the sea, while many OF
the peaks are two and three times this. The
volcano Killma Miro is 1860 feet, and
Mount Kenjan about 10000. Hence comes
tho apparent paradox Of being able to
travel or climb perhaps In single day from
the sandy desert from which the equatorial
sun has swept almost every vestige of vege-
tation. to realms of perpetual snow and
ice. The whole region, too, Is covered with
volcanoes In many of which the fires have
not yet died down.
1t was DR.. Gregory's original purpose to
press on northward through Rift valley and
sketch the topography and geology of all
that part OF this great assure which yet
remains unexplored, but the undertaking
proved too great, and he was compelled to
return to Mombasa. His researches, how
ever, proved conclusively the continuity of
this huge trough with the parts OF 1t known
at the north and the south. There no longer
remains doubt that throughout the enor-