Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/426

 estimate has been made of the comparative quantity of water contributed by the affluents and lost by evaporation.

In the middle of the lake rises the island of Kirwan, inhabited by the Wakwafi, who cultivate the soil, rear cattle, sheep, and goats, and navigate the basin in canoes of a very peculiar type. "They are formed to hold only one man or two boys, and are composed of a remarkably light mimosa wood, found growing round

the lake in marshy places. It seems to be as light as cork. The component parts of the canoe are simply tied together in their rough state. I tried to get ferried over to the island, but the islanders believed I wanted to bewitch the place, and point blank refused to take me" (Thomson).

From the reports of the natives it is now known that in the unexplored regions north-cast of Baringo the line of fault stretches away for several hundred miles, broadening out in the direction of the great Zamburu (Samburu) alice swamp or