"The country here is very pretty, not heavily wooded and not a level plain; there are hills in the distance, both on the east and west, and in the south is a chain of mountains that seem to threaten to stop our march. Sometimes we cross open areas of a mile or more, with a few trees scattered here and there, and again we come to stretches of forest of a density that would require a path to be cut if one did not already exist. "There are a good many brooks and tiny rivers running through the region, so that it is well watered, and the traveller is in no danger of suffering from thirst. Some of the streams are sluggish and run through marshy ground, but the most of them remind you of an American brook gliding over sand and pebble, and occasionally rippling merrily down a rapid descent. I never supposed there was such a temperate region in Africa; but when I remember that we are four thousand feet above the level of the sea, and on the great plateau of Central Africa, my surprise ceases. [Illustration: GREAT ROCK NEAR THE CAMP.] "One of our camps was made under the shelter of a great rock, which had a deep pool on the surface. We could hardly believe the story till we climbed the rock and saw for ourselves, and there, sure enough, was the pool. "'There is a rock just like this on the route to Zanzibar,' said Abdul, 'and it was visited by Cameron in his journey across Africa.' "'Yes,' said the captain, 'and there is the same story about that rock as there is of the one we are on.' "'What is that?' I asked. "'They say that an elephant was once drowned in the pool while attempting to drink from it.' "I looked around, and quietly remarked to Captain Mohammed that I could hardly believe an elephant was ever drowned in the pool. "'Oh, certainly,' he answered. 'The water is very deep, and an elephant might easily be drowned in it.' "'Of course that might be,' I replied, 'provided the elephant was here. But will you explain how he could climb up this rock, which is steeper than the roof of a house, and has required us to use both feet and hands to ascend?' "The captain said he never thought of that, and quite agreed with me that no elephant could be drowned in the pool. Then we went down by the same path we had ascended. I slipped in the descent, and had an ugly fall, but fortunately was caught by one of the soldiers who accompanied us. If he had not been where he could grasp me I should have been fortunate to escape without serious injury. [Illustration: PECULIAR TABLE-ROCK IN THE BARI COUNTRY.] "Speaking of high and curious rocks, I am reminded of one in the Bari country, which was visited by Baker Pacha.