OF THE CAMEROONS MOUNTAINS, ETC. 175 
eamped at a spring at the base of the Peaks, above the forest, 
at 7376 ft. On the 18th ascended to the summit of one of the 
highest peaks (Mount Helen), alt. 9290 ft., and returned to 
Mapanya, where I was met on the following day by Mr. Saker, 
Signor Calvo, and Consul Burton, who, having followed me up 
the mountain, now joined my expedition. December 24th, again 
visited Mount Helen. January 3rd, 1862, reached the summit of 
the Cameroons Mountains— Mount Albert, alt. 13,100 ft., which 
had never before been visited by a European; was taken ill on 
the descent, and had to be carried down to Victoria. January 
24th, again left Victoria for the mountains, and reached the top 
of Mount Victoria, alt. 12,861 ft., on the 29th, Mount Albert 
(my second visit), and Mount Hooker. On January 31st, Consul 
Burton descended, leaving me: I continued my explorations till 
February 18th. 
“ November 8th, 1862, left Victoria for a third expedition on 
the mountains, visited the summit twice, and returned to Victoria 
December 15th. On this occasion I examined the ‘ Burning 
Field’ described by Consul Burton in his Report printed by the 
Foreign Office, and found the appearance to be caused by steam 
issuing from the ground, at an elevation of 12,967 ft. above the 
sea. December 30th, ascended Mount Etindet, alt. 5309 ft.” 
From Mr. Mann’s descriptions, the Cameroons Mountains pre- 
sent a dense forest-region up to about 7000 ft., when open grassy 
fields succeed, with bushes of Hypericum, Pittosporum, Adeno- 
carpus, Pygeum, Leucothoé, Ericinella, Myrica, and various her 
baceous plants. The many peaks which rise above this elevation 
are either stony and barren (being all formed of lava scoriz or 
basalt), or are dotted with tufts of grass and a few other her- 
baceous plants. 
The most interesting plants from the highest summits are, 
Umbilicus pendulinus, Silene, Trifolium, Galium Aparine and G. 
rotundifolium, Scabiosa succisa, Helichrysa, Veronice, Bartsia, 
Stachys, Trichonema Bulbocodium, Deschampsia cespitosa, Poa 
nemoralis, Keleria cristata, and various other European and even 
British plants. 
Sierra del Crystal.—This appears to be a low range of hills, no- 
where exceeding 2000 ft. elevation, whose importance and altitude 
have, according to Mr. Mann, been much overrated by M. du 
Chaillu. On June 7th, 1862, Mr. Mann reached the Gaboon River, 
and on the 12th arrived at Corisco Bay (Ilobi Island). On the 
4th July left Corisco for the interior hills; on the 18th reached 
