174 THE SNOWFIELDS AND GLACIERS OF KENYA part ii 



the western ridge ; this was at first very easy, but we soon 

 came to a part where the arete was steeper, and broken by a 

 series of lava cUfifs. We could easily have avoided these, but 

 they were very easy, and so, to test my companion's climbing 

 powers, I resolved to scale them. Fundi did not like the look 

 of the cliffs, but after a little persuasion he consented to be 

 roped, and I went ahead up a gully. Having taken my 

 position I had another little argument with Fundi, accompany- 

 ing it by a few gentle pulls on the rope. Thus exhorted he 

 climbed up about lo feet, but his foothold having once given 

 way, he was useless. I had to lower him to the bottom, and 

 nothing would induce him to try it again. " That is all very 

 well for wajuzi (lizards) and Wazungu (white men), but Zanzi- 

 bari can't do that," was his verdict. " You'd better come back, 

 master," he cried ; " I promised to follow you anywhere, but 

 how can I, when the path stands up on end?" He would not 

 come on, so there was nothing for it but to order " fungua " 

 (unrope), and continue the climb alone. At several places 

 vertical lava walls barred progress on the crest, and I finally 

 gained the summit from the south-eastern arete, which I had 

 reached by a traverse. I rested here a while to examine the 

 ridges round this peak, and to consider the various possible 

 lines of attack upon the central summit. This rose abruptly 

 as a great black pyramid from the snowfields and glaciers at 

 its base. The face opposite me was so steep that the snow 

 only rested on it in cracks and hollows, and down gullies. 

 There was not a cloud upon it, but here and there a streak 

 of wind-borne snow-dust softened the harsh form of the rocks 

 and the dazzling lines of snow. It was so delightful to sit 

 upon the summit of the one peak, estimating the advantages 

 offered by the different lines of attack upon the other, and 

 comparing it with old Alpine friends, that I paid no heed to 

 the clouds creeping up the valleys from the west. I stayed on 

 the summit till they had reached me, and robbed me of the 

 view. Then, in order to obtain a fuller series of exposures 

 of the succession of beds of lavas and volcanic ashes, of 

 which Mount Hohnel is composed, than I had seen during 

 the ascent, I began to descend its western face toward the 

 lake. 



The climbing was at first rather difficult, as the face of the 



