TANA  , a

river of British East Africa, which gives its name to the Tanaland province of that protectorate . It has a course, following the main windings only, of over 5oo m . Its sources are along the watershed close to the eastern wall of the eastern rift-valley, and it enters the Indian Ocean in 2° 40' S., about 1 ro m . N. by E. of Mombasa . One series of its numerous headstreams traverses the Kikuyu plateau north of the Athi, while others flow down the southern and eastern slopes of Kenya . The main stream, from about 37° E . 1° S., where it runs close to the upper waters of tht Athi, flows in a wide curve N.E., nearly reaching the equator . About 390 E. it turns S., and from this point is not known to receive any tributary of importance . Its course is very tortuous, the current rapid, and the channel much obstructed by snags . Its width varies, as a general rule, between roo and 200 yds . The banks are usually low, in part forested and inundated at high water, but away from the river the country appears to consist of dry plains covered with mimosa scrub . Adjoining the lower Tana are many backwaters, which seem to show that the course has been subject to great changes .

In 2 ° 20' S. the river again turns east, but during the last ro m. it flows

south-west, parallel to the coast, entering the sea across a dangerous bar . The Tana has been navigated in a steam-launch for some 300 M. from the mouth . North of the Tana is the Ozi, a small river connected with the Tana by the Belazoni canal .