1 86 THE SNOWFIELDS AND GLACIERS OF KENYA part ii 



not attempt any such systematic tests as those of Mr. Whymper ; 

 but I have no doubt whatever that at the end of a day's march 

 on Laikipia, at about Whymper's elevation, my rifle weighed 

 heavier than it did at a lower level ; I was also sooner stopped 

 by shortness of breath when chasing butterflies, and both 

 symptoms made me anxious as to the effect Kenya would 

 have. Recollecting the experiences of Mr. Whymper and his 

 trained guides at the height of 16,600 feet on Chimborazo, I 

 began the ascent of Kenya thinking that, as I could not stay 

 long enough to get used to the diminished pressure, this alone 

 would prevent my rising much above the level of 15,000 or 

 16,000 feet. I spent, however, five days above the height of 

 13,000 feet, several times ascended above the level of 16,000 

 feet, and twice above that of 17,000 feet. During this time 

 anything like undue haste was followed by an attack of loss of 

 breath, from which I recovered very slowly. I had a slight 

 attack of mountain sickness one afternoon, due to over-fatigue. 

 I began the day by chasing some mountain rats {Otomys 

 irroratus), and afterwards, though tired by this exertion, carried 

 what was for me a heavy burden up to the camp in the Teleki 

 Valley. This was necessary, for I had only two men available, 

 and as they were unwell I had to share the loads with them. 

 On attempting to work in the afternoon, I felt bilious and had 

 a singing in my ears. Every step upward required a distinct 

 and painful effort. It was not a mere feeling of lassitude, but 

 as if my legs were paralysed, and my left foot numbed. On 

 the descent I experienced less inconvenience, and next day had 

 fully recovered. 



I had no return of either symptom during the rest of my 

 stay. On the contrary, to my surprise most of the time I felt 

 unusually well. Probably the interest in the geology of the 

 mountain, and the absence of the worries of camp work, 

 account for my exuberant spirits. The only inconvenience I 

 felt was great liability to fatigue. This was so marked above 

 the level of 17,000 feet that I had to work in spurts; step- 

 cutting was especially trying, and I could only do this for a 

 few minutes at a time. The desire to lessen the toil of the 

 ascent was so strong, that it was continually tempting to run 

 risks, either personally or to the instruments, to effect some 

 trivial saving in trouble. I felt this especially in my second 



