CHAP. X THE RESERVE CAMP 165 



I therefore resolved to attempt to reach Kenya to settle 

 these and other problems connected with it. I assured every 

 one on the coast that I had no intention of completing the 

 ascent ; for I guessed from Peters' photograph that it was not 

 likely to yield to any one climbing alone, and none of the 

 Zanzibari could be expected to venture upon the snow. 



The preliminary accounts given by Teleki and Hobley of 

 their attempts to ascend the mountain, showed that the first 

 difficulty was the traverse of the forests on the lower slopes. 

 It was advisable, therefore, to select a route which would lead 

 through these at their narrowest part. The full reports of 

 these ascents had not been published when I left England, so 

 I had been careful to engage porters who had accompanied 

 both expeditions. The descriptions and statements of these 

 men showed that the forests are narrower on the west than on 

 the south. They are probably thinnest on the eastern side ; 

 but from the direction from which we approached, this was 

 quite inaccessible to us. 



On emerging from the forests of western Kikuyu we therefore 

 marched northward through Ndoro, at a sufficient distance from 

 the base of Kenya to get a general view of the mountain. At 

 noon we selected the bay of moorland that seemed to run highest 

 into the forests, and at its head chose a place for camp. 



The rest of that day was spent in a bustle of preparations. 

 A " zeriba " or " boma " was built to protect the camp, and a 

 strong shed begun to shelter the stores. Loads were re-sorted, 

 rations served out for ten days, and reserve food packed. 

 Twice Omari and I went through the baggage, to pick out 

 things that could possibly be left behind. My own kit was cut 

 down to the lowest possible limit, though I took all available 

 clothing to lend to the men. 



Our camp here was at the foot of the mountain — in fact a 

 few hundred feet up its lowest slope ; but we could not see it, 

 for an impenetrable mist obscured everything. Luckily for us, 

 however, the mist dispersed for a few minutes at sunset. I was 

 thus able to take a bearing of the summit, to note the direction 

 of the valleys and ridges that lead to it, and to plan a route 

 by which to traverse the forests to the peaks above. 



At eight o'clock next morning (24th June) all was ready. 

 The men paraded, and the twelve chosen for the expedition were 



