1 82 THE SNOWFIELDS AND GLACIERS OF KENYA part ii 



inclined snow lower down ; this, however, was so powdery that 

 I could not cross it, and had to continue down the north face, 

 which, but for the rope, I could not have done. In consequence 

 of this I missed some sheets of paper which I had left in the 

 morning in order to guide me on my return, entered the wrong 

 valley, and did not get back to camp till three hours after dark. 

 Here the news was awaiting me that my men at the lower 

 camp were ill, and also a request to descend next morning to 

 attend to them. 



The cold at night was intense, for the sky was clear and 

 cloudless, and an icy wind from the snowfields whistled among 

 the crags beside the camp. Personally I revel in cold, so I 

 gaily tripped out of my tent to read the thermometer ; but 

 on that occasion it was too much for me, and I was glad 

 to get back again to my blanket - bag, covering my retreat 

 by depreciatory comments on the value of meteorological 

 observations. 



The night was followed by a wet day. I sent the men 

 down with the goods to the lower camp, and remained behind 

 for a short time with an Askari to collect in the Hohnel 

 Valley. While doing so it began to snow ; and when we began 

 the descent, we entered first a cold drizzling mist, and then 

 heavy rain. The Askari delayed progress, for he walked rather 

 slowly, and had a great dread of being lost. Whenever I got 

 a few yards ahead of him, and he lost sight of me in the mist, he 

 would shout excitedly, " Zhuia ! bwana, zhuia ! " (Stop ! master, 

 stop !) The first time he did so I obeyed at once, thinking 

 that I was rushing headlong over a precipice. His only reply 

 to my startled inquiry, " Kumbe ? " (What's the matter ?) was 

 a moan, " Ah ! bwana ! I wish I had never left Zanzibar." 

 The first time he did this, I thanked him for the information. 

 On the second occasion, I reminded him he had told me so 

 before. Next time I tried to soothe him with the remark that 

 I was glad he had, as I had thereby obtained the benefit of his 

 services. On the fourth repetition, however, I heartily agreed 

 with him, and suggested that the quicker he walked the sooner 

 he would be back in his beloved island home. I was, however, 

 always compelled to stop for him, for as soon as I disappeared 

 from sight in the fog his cries became most pathetic ; but my 

 remarks on the subject need not be chronicled. Shortly after 



