382 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



17,000 feet. Finally, the past autumn, Dr. Meyer, accompanied by Herr 

 Purtscheller, of Salzburg, an experienced Alpinist, .succeeded in making 

 four ascents of Kibo and two of Kimawenzi. The ascents were ex- 

 tremely difficult, owing- to the rotten condition of the ice ujion Kibo, the 

 explorers often sinking to their armpits. Kimawenzi was still worse, 

 with its precipices of crumbling lava, great masses being detached at a 

 touch. The great crater in Kibo was discovered and the mountain 

 accurately mapped. 



The climate of such a mountain, of course, presents every variation. 

 The surrounding x)lain has an average elevation of 2,500 feet. Ascend- 

 ing from its tropical temperature and vegetation, we enter the more 

 temperate zone of Chaga, at a little over 3,000 feet. This is the inhabited 

 region and extends to about 5,400 feet; tlien comes a zone of heavy 

 forest, reaching, with some intervals of grassy downs, to about 9,000 feet. 

 Some scattered patches of forest are found 1,500 feet higher. The 

 region of grass and heather reaches to 11,000; above this, saxifrages, 

 mosses, and lichens to about 15,500, when all vegetation ceases and the 

 ground is covered with glacial debris. The line of perpetual snow is 

 about 18,000 feet. The southern slope is well watered and the rainfall 

 heavy, owing to the southwestern monsoons. Many rivers flow dowii 

 it, cross the plain to the southward, and empty into the Euvu. The 

 eastern slope is also well supplied with rain. Its streams, however, do 

 not reach the foot; but among the foothills, a. short distance from the 

 base, are a number of si>rings of clear, cold water. These form two 

 rivers. One, the Useri, flowing northeast, empties into the Sabaki; the 

 other, the Luini, flows southward, giving life to the forest of Taveta, 

 and, after forming a large backwater (Lake Jipe), receives other streams 

 from the mountain and becomes the Ruvu, emi)tying into the sea at 

 Pangani. 



The northern and western slopes are much drier, tlie streams are few, 

 and the vegetation much more scanty. Here, also, the forest zone exists, 

 but is much narrower, and there are some small openings through it, 

 by which the buftalo and eland and other denizens of the plain travel 

 up to the higher regions. But, instead of the populous and well-culti- 

 vated zone of Ohaga upon the other slopes, here we find only a wander- 

 ing and pastoral population of Masai, comparatively few in numbers, 

 still further diminisluHl during the past few months by their disastrous 

 war with the Aruslia Wajun. 



Upon the slopes of Kilima-Njaro, and in the plains near by, are 

 numerous extinct cones and craters, mostly of small size. One at the 

 southeast corner forms the crater lake of Chala, a lovely sheet of Avater 

 about li miles in diameter. 



The lava walls rise perpendicularly 200 feet from the water's edge. 

 It is inhabited by numerous crocodiles and a ])eculiar species of fish. 



The scenery of Kilima-Njaro and the neighborhood can scarcely be 

 compared with that of any ]>lacein Europe or America, it is so entirely 



