Whilepassingacrosstheseinterminable-lookingplains，theeyerestswithpleasureonasmallflower，whichexistsinsuchnumbersastogiveitsownhuetothegroundOnebroadbandofyellowstretchesacrossourpathOnlookingattheflowerswhichformedthisgoldencarpet，wesaweveryvarietyofthatcolor，fromthepalestlemontotherichestorangeCrossingahundredyardsofthis，wecameuponanotherbroadbandofthesameflower，butblue，andthiscolorisvariedfromthelightesttinttodarkblue，andevenpurple。
　　Ihadbeforeobservedthesameflowerpossessingdifferentcolorsindifferentpartsofthecountry，andonceagreatnumberofliver-coloredflowers，whichelsewherewereyellowEventhecolorofthebirdschangedwiththedistrictwepassedthrough；butneverbeforedidIseesuchamarkedchangeasfromyellowtoblue，repeatedagainandagainonthesameplainAnotherbeautifulplantattractedmyattentionsostronglyontheseplainsthatIdismountedtoexamineit。
　　TomygreatdelightIfoundittobeanoldhomeacquaintance，aspeciesofDrosera，closelyresemblingourownsundew`DroseraAnglia’。
　　Theflower-stalkneverattainsaheightofmorethantwoorthreeinches，andtheleavesarecoveredwithreddishhairs，eachofwhichhasadropofclammyfluidatitstip，makingthewholeappearasifspangledoverwithsmalldiamondsInoticeditfirstinthemorning，andimaginedtheappearancewascausedbythesunshiningondropsofdew；
　　but，asitcontinuedtomaintainitsbrilliancyduringtheheatoftheday，Iproceededtoinvestigatethecauseofitsbeauty，andfoundthatthepointsofthehairsexudedpureliquid，in，apparently，capsulesofclear，glutinousmatterTheywerethuslikedewdropspreservedfromevaporationTheclammyfluidisintendedtoentrapinsects，which，dyingontheleaf，probablyyieldnutrimenttotheplant。
　　DuringourseconddayonthisextensiveplainIsufferedfrommytwenty-seventhattackoffever，atapartwherenosurface-waterwastobefoundWeneverthoughtitnecessarytocarrywaterwithusinthisregion；andnow，whenIwasquiteunabletomoveon，mymensoonfoundwatertoallaymyburningthirstbydiggingwithsticksafewfeetbeneaththesurfaceWehadthusanopportunityofobservingthestateoftheseremarkableplainsatdifferentseasonsoftheyear。
　　Nextdaywepursuedourway，andonthe8thofJunewefordedtheLotembwatotheN。WofDilolo，andregainedourformerpath。
　　TheLotembwahereisaboutamilewide，aboutthreefeetdeep，andfullofthelotus，papyrus，arum，mat-rushes，andotheraquaticplants。
　　Ididnotobservethecourseinwhichthewaterflowedwhilecrossing；
　　but，havingnoticedbeforethattheLotembwaontheothersideoftheLakeDiloloflowedinasoutherlydirection，IsupposedthatthiswassimplyaprolongationofthesameriverbeyondDilolo，andthatitroseinthislargemarsh，whichwehadnotseeninourprogresstotheN。WButwhenwecametotheSouthernLotembwa，wewereinformedbyShakatwalathattheriverwehadcrossedflowedinanoppositedirectionnotintoDilolo，butintotheKasai。
　　Thisphenomenonofariverrunninginoppositedirectionsstruckevenhismindasstrange；and，thoughIdidnotobservethecurrent，simplyfromtakingitforgrantedthatitwastowardthelake，Ihavenodoubtthathisassertion，corroboratedasitwasbyothers，iscorrect，andthattheDiloloisactuallythewatershedbetweentheriversystemsthatflowtotheeastandwest。
　　Iwouldhavereturnedinordertoexaminemorecarefullythismostinterestingpoint，but，havinghadmylowerextremitieschilledincrossingtheNorthernLotembwa，Iwasseizedwithvomitingofblood，and，besides，sawnoreasontodoubtthenativetestimony。
　　ThedistancebetweenDiloloandthevalleysleadingtothatoftheKasaiisnotmorethanfifteenmiles，andtheplainsbetweenareperfectlylevel；
　　and，hadIreturned，IshouldonlyhavefoundthatthislittlelakeDilolo，bygivingaportiontotheKasaiandanothertotheZambesi，distributesitswaterstotheAtlanticandIndianOceansIstatethefactexactlyasitopenedtomyownmind，foritwasonlynowthatIapprehendedthetrueformoftheriversystemsandcontinentIhadseenthevariousriversofthiscountryonthewesternsideflowingfromthesubtendingridgesintothecentre，andhadreceivedinformationfromnativesandArabsthatmostoftheriversontheeasternsideofthesamegreatregiontookasomewhatsimilarcoursefromanelevatedridgethere，andthatallunitedintwomaindrains，theoneflowingtothenorthandtheothertothesouth，andthatthenortherndrainfounditswayoutbytheCongotothewest，andthesouthernbytheZambesitotheeast。
　　Iwasthusonthewatershed，orhighestpointofthesetwogreatsystems，butstillnotmorethan4000feetabovethelevelofthesea，and1000feetlowerthanthetopofthewesternridgewehadalreadycrossed；
　　yet，insteadofloftysnow-cladmountainsappearingtoverifytheconjecturesofthespeculative，wehadextensiveplains，overwhichonemaytravelamonthwithoutseeinganythinghigherthananant-hilloratreeIwasnotthenawarethatanyoneelsehaddiscoveredtheelevatedtroughformofthecentreofAfrica。
　　Ihadobservedthattheoldschistoserocksonthesidesdippedintowardthecentreofthecountry，andtheirstrikenearlycorrespondedwiththemajoraxisofthecontinent；andalsothatwherethelatereruptedtraprockshadbeenspreadoutintabularmassesoverthecentralplateau，theyhadborneangularfragmentsoftheolderrocksintheirsubstance；butthepartialgeneralizationwhichtheobservationsledtowas，thatgreatvolcanicactionhadtakenplaceinancienttimes，somewhatinthesamewayitdoesnow，atdistancesofnotmorethanthreehundredmilesfromthesea，andthatthisigneousaction，extendingalongbothsidesofthecontinent，hadtiltedupthelateralrocksinthemannertheyarenowseentolieThegreaterenergyandmoreextendedrangeofigneousactioninthoseveryremoteperiodswhenAfricawasformed，embracingalltheflanks，impartedtoititspresentverysimpleliteraloutlineThiswasthelengthtowhichIhadcome。
　　Thetraprocks，whichnowconstitutethe“fillingup“ofthegreatvalley，werealwaysapuzzletometillfavoredwithSirRoderickMurchison’sexplanationoftheoriginalformofthecontinent，forthenIcouldseeclearlywhythesetraprocks，whichstilllieinaperfectlyhorizontalpositiononextensiveareas，heldintheirsubstanceangularfragments，containingalgaeoftheoldschists，whichformthebottomoftheoriginallacustrinebasin：thetraps，inburstingthrough，hadbrokenthemoffandpreservedthem。
　　Thereare，besides，rangesofhillsinthecentralparts，composedofclayandsandstoneschists，withtheripplemarkdistinct，inwhichnofossilsappear；butastheyareusuallytiltedawayfromthemassesofhorizontaltrap，itisprobablethattheytoowereaportionoftheoriginalbottom，andfossilsmayyetbefoundinthem。*
　　*AfterdwellinguponthegeologicalstructureoftheCapeColonyasdevelopedbyMrABain，andtheexistenceinveryremoteperiodsoflacustrineconditionsinthecentralpartofSouthAfrica，asprovedbyfresh-waterandterrestrialfossils，SirRoderickMurchisonthuswrites：
　　“SuchasSouthAfricaisnow，suchhavebeenhermainfeaturesduringcountlesspastagesanteriortothecreationofthehumanrace；
　　fortheoldrockswhichformherouterfringeunquestionablycircledroundaninteriormarshyorlacustrinecountry，inwhichtheDicynodonflourished，atatimewhennotasingleanimalwassimilartoanylivingthingwhichnowinhabitsthesurfaceofourglobeThepresentcentralandmeridianzoneofwaters，whetherlakesormarshes，extendingfromLakeTchadtoLake’Ngami，withhippopotamiontheirbanks，arethereforebutthegreatmodernresidualgeographicalphenomenaofthoseofamesozoicageThedifferences，however，betweenthegeologicalpastofAfricaandherpresentstateareenormous。
　　Sincethatprimevaltime，thelandshavebeenmuchelevatedabovethesea-leveleruptiverockspiercinginpartsthroughthem；
　　deeprentsanddefileshavebeensuddenlyformedinthesubtendingridgesthroughwhichsomeriversescapeoutward。
　　“Travelerswilleventuallyascertainwhetherthebasin-shapedstructure，whichishereannouncedashavingbeenthegreatfeatureofthemostancient，asitisoftheactualgeographyofSouthAfricai。e。，fromprimevaltimestothepresentday，does，ordoesnot，extendintoNorthernAfricaLookingatthatmuchbroaderportionofthecontinent，wehavesomereasontosurmisethatthehighermountainsalsoform，inageneralsense，itsflanksonly。”President’sAddress，RoyalGeographicalSociety，1852，pcxxiii。
　　ThecharacteristicsoftherainyseasoninthiswonderfullyhumidregionmayaccountinsomemeasurefortheperiodicalfloodsoftheZambesi，andperhapstheNileTherainsseemtofollowthecourseofthesun，fortheyfallinOctoberandNovember，whenthesunpassesoverthiszoneonhiswaysouthOnreachingthetropicofCapricorninDecember，itisdry；
　　andDecemberandJanuaryarethemonthsinwhichinjuriousdroughtsaremostdreadednearthattropicfromKolobengtoLinyanti。
　　AshereturnsagaintothenorthinFebruary，March，andApril，wehavethegreatrainsoftheyear；andtheplains，whichinOctoberandNovemberwerewellmoistened，andimbibedrainlikesponges，nowbecomesupersaturated，andpourforththosefloodsofclearwaterwhichinundatethebanksoftheZambesiSomewhatthesamephenomenonprobablycausestheperiodicalinundationsoftheNileThetworiversriseinthesameregion；butthereisadifferenceintheperiodofflood，possiblyfromtheirbeingonoppositesidesoftheequator。
　　ThewatersoftheNilearesaidtobecometurbidinJune；
　　andthefloodattainsitsgreatestheightinAugust，ortheperiodwhenwemaysupposethesupersaturationtooccurThesubjectisworthytheinvestigationofthosewhomayexaminetheregionbetweentheequatorand10DegS。；fortheNiledoesnotshowmuchincreasewhenthesunisatitsfarthestpointnorth，ortropicofCancer，butatthetimeofitsreturningtotheequator，exactlyasintheothercasewhenheisonCapricorn，andtheZambesiisaffected。*
　　*Theaboveisfrommyownobservation，togetherwithinformationderivedfromthePortugueseintheinteriorofAngola；andImayaddthattheresultofmanyyears’observationbyMessrsGabrielandBrandatLoanda，onthewestcoast，isinaccordancetherewith。
　　Itrainstherebetweenthe1stand30thofNovember，butJanuaryandDecemberareusuallybothwarmanddry。
　　Theheavierrainscommenceaboutthe1stofFebruary，andlastuntilthe15thofMayThennorainfallsbetweenthe20thofMayandthe1stofNovemberTherainaveragesfrom12to15inchesperannumIn1852itwas12。034inches；
　　in1853，15。473inchesAlthoughIhadnomeansofmeasuringtheamountofrainwhichfellinLonda，Ifeelcertainthattheannualquantityexceedsverymuchthatwhichfallsonthecoast，becauseforalongtimewenoticedthateverydawnwasmarkedbyadelugingshower，whichbeganwithoutwarning-dropsorthunder。
　　Iobservedthattherainceasedsuddenlyonthe28thofApril，andthelesserrainscommencedaboutafortnightbeforethebeginningofNovember。
　　FrominformationderivedfromArabsofZanzibar，whomImetatNalieleinthemiddleofthecountry，theregiontotheeastofthepartsofLondaoverwhichwehavetraveledresemblestheminitsconformation。
　　Theyreportswampysteppes，someofwhichhavenotrees，wheretheinhabitantsusegrass，andstalksofnativecorn，forfuel。
　　Alargeshallowlakeisalsopointedoutinthatdirection，namedTanganyenka，whichrequiresthreedaysforcrossingincanoes。
　　ItisconnectedwithanothernamedKalagweGarague？，farthernorth，andmaybetheNyanjaoftheMaravimFromthislakeisderived，bynumeroussmallstreams，theRiverLoapula，theeasternbranchoftheZambesi，which，comingfromtheN。E。，flowspastthetownofCazembe。
　　ThesouthernendofthislakeistendaysnortheastofthetownofCazembe；
　　andasthatisprobablymorethanfivedaysfromShinte，wecannothavebeennearertoitthan150milesProbablythislakeisthewatershedbetweentheZambesiandtheNile，asLakeDiloloisthatbetweentheLeebaandKasaiBut，howeverthismaybe，thephenomenaoftherainyseasonshowthatitisnotnecessarytoassumetheexistenceofhighsnowymountainsuntilwegetreliableinformation。
　　This，itistobehoped，willbeoneoftheresultsoftheresearchesofCaptainBurtoninhispresentjourney。
　　TheoriginalvalleyformationofthecontinentdeterminedthenorthernandsoutherncourseoftheZambesiinthecentre，andalsooftheancientriverwhichonceflowedfromtheLinyantibasintotheOrangeRiverItalsogavedirectiontothesouthernandnorthernflowoftheKasaiandtheNileWefindthatbetweenthelatitudes，say6Degand12DegS。，fromwhich，inallprobability，theheadwatersofthoseriversdiverge，thereisasortofelevatedpartitioninthegreatlongitudinalvalleyPresumingonthecorrectnessofthenativeinformation，whichplacesthehumidregiontowhichtheNileandZambesiprobablyowetheiroriginwithinthelatitudesindicated，whydoessomuchmorerainfalltherethaninthesamelatitudesnorthoftheequator？WhydoesDarfurnotgiverisetogreatrivers，likeLondaandthecountryeastofit？TheprevailingwindsintheoceanoppositetheterritorypointedoutaresaidtobefromtheN。EandS。E。