Although it is probably a fact that the country of Uganda is almost on a dead level, it is, nevertheless, very hilly, a good proportion of its surface being covered with short lumpy hills, and the valleys between these are almost invariably swamps or rivers. The rivers usually become swamps because the incline of the land is so gradual that the water cannot flow away quickly enough, and often spreads over a large area.
It is an easy matter to bridge over these shallow rivers, excepting in the stronger part of the stream. The usual plan in making a bridge is to beat down the grass and reeds, or the papyrus stems, and to throw on a lot of loose earth, which is kept in position by a double reed wall, very fragile indeed, and easily washed away by one severe storm. The stronger part of the stream, usually not more than a few feet in width, is bridged over with the stems of palms, but when the river rises, after a heavy fall
