358 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



SNOWY MOUNTAINS IN EASTERN AFRICA. 



THE following particulars respecting the snow-capped " KiUma dja 

 aro" or " Mountain of Greatness," discovered by the Rev. Mr. Reb- 

 mann in Eastern Africa, within 4 south of the equator, will be pe- 

 rused with interest by all our readers. From Kilima, the farthest 

 point to which he had advanced on his previous journey, Mr. Reb- 

 mann and his party proceeded in the direction of Madjame. For six 

 or eight miles the path lay in a northwest direction over a gradually 

 rising country. They then reached the northern limit of inhabited 

 land, being- about eighteen miles distant from the foot of the Jan-o-a 



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mountain. Here the cold was as great as in Northern Europe in No- 

 vember ; this was not a matter of surprise, for they were so near Kili- 

 ma dja aro, that it could be seen even by the light of the moon. On 

 the next day they proceeded several miles in the same direction, until 

 they entered a mountainous forest, when the path became due west, 

 and continued so until they reached Madjame. Having completed 

 about twelve miles, they entered Ura (Ooroo), a province of Jagga, 

 which they found intersected with valleys from 1,500 to 2,000 feet in. 

 depth, through which ran perennial streams, supplied by the moun- 

 tain snows. As they approached Madjame, they arrived at the tine 

 river Weriweri flowing over a stone bed. in a valley about 150 feet 

 deep, and 30 or 40 yards broad, the river at this season occupying 

 about one third of the channel. Here fires were necessary. Cross- 



ti 



ing the river, they stopped for some time within three or four miles of 

 the foot of the mountain, whose shape Mr. R. can, therefore, very ac- 

 curately dsecribe. " There are two summits rising to the limit of snow 

 out of the common mountain mass. The eastern is lower, and termi- 

 nates in several peaks, the snow on which varies with the season. 

 The western summit is the proper perpetual snow-mountain, and rises 

 above its neighbor, and is formed like an immense dome. It is ten 

 or twelve miles distant from the eastern summit, the intervening space 

 presented a saddle which, it is believed, is never covered with snow. 

 The natives call the snow kibo, and are well aware that it is nothing 

 but water." This information sets at rest the question of the exist- 

 ence of snowy mountains almost under the line in Eastern Africa. 

 The journey referred to was made about November of 1848; and on 

 April 5, 1849, Mr. Rebinann set out on another journey towards the 

 lake in Uniamesi. London Athenauni, 



THE FRENCH AFRICAN EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



ON the 4th of March last, Capt. Boiiet, who was in command of a 

 French ship, succeeded in crossing the bar at the mouth of the Great 

 Bassein River, situated on the western coast of Africa. The attempt 

 was attended with great danger, and of the four officers Capt, Boiiet 

 lost three, and he was himself several times attacked with sickness ; 

 but he still persevered, and has been rewarded by the discovery of 

 two magnificent lakes, on whose shores palm oil is so abundant that 

 the ship had not vessels enough to hold it. Palm oil is said to afford 



