1 62 Historical 



So he could not attempt an ascent. 



In 1861, Baron de Decken reached an elevation on the sides of 

 the immense mountain which Thornton," 41 ' his companion, esti- 

 mated as 22,814 feet (6952 meters). 



November 27, 1862, he was able to ascend high enough to feel 

 some discomfort. Dr. Kersten, 250 who accompanied him, reports 

 that they stopped at 4223 meters, because of the cold, before 

 reaching the snow line: 



The ascent (he says) continued to be fairly difficult, and we were 

 often forced to stop short. Anamouri, one of the men whom we had 

 hired, was also indisposed. (P. 36.) 



Baron de Decken 250 expresses himself more definitely on the 

 effect of the altitude: 



When I had reached a height of 4225 meters about quarter past 

 eleven, I stopped, as I was forced to do, since my servants could go 

 no further without danger of pains in the chest. Dr. Kersten also felt 

 the effects of the rarified air. (P. 49.) 



And last, October 30, 1871, New-' 1 ascended Kilimandjaro to 

 the snow line: 



My men abandoned me, complaining of the cold. I continued with 

 Tofiki alone. All went well for an hour and a half; but then Tofiki 

 collapsed, hardly able to speak. He urged me to go on, telling me that 

 he would wait for me, but that he would die if I did not return. 1 

 went as far as the ice, broke off some pieces of it, and descended at 

 once. 



Yes, snow in Africa, he cried with enthusiasm! What ideas 

 this undeniable evidence must have given the learned editor of 

 the Nouvelles annates des Voyages who, in 1849, denied that Reb- 

 mann could have seen snow on Kilimandjaro. 



10. Volcanoes of the Pacific. 



Borneo.— The highest peak of this vast island appears to be 

 Kini-Ballu, the height of which (4175 meters) is almost that of 

 Jungfrau. 



The first attempt to ascend was made March 11, 1851, by Low.--" 

 He did not get above 2850 meters, and considered that the summit, 

 which he estimates at 13,000 or 14,000 feet, is "inaccessible for any 

 one without wings." 



And yet, in April, 1858, he reached the summit, accompanied 

 by M. Spencer Saint- John. The latter felt the effects of the rari- 

 fied air very slightly, as his account shows: 



