RUWENZORI AND ITS SNOWS 



161 



(formerly collector for the Toro District), Messrs. ^Nloore and Fergusson^ 

 and myself and my two companions,* and we have only touched it at one 

 spot, the head of the jNIubuko Valley. Euwenzori is no Kilimanjaro or 

 Kenya, no single snow-mass. It is a chain of heiglits like the Caucasus, 

 with considerable intervals between the principal masses of snow and ice. 

 The snow-peaks of this range probably extend over a distance of thirty 

 miles from north to south. 



The obstacles which prevented myself and other explorers from reaching 





131. LOBhlJA STl'HL.U.l.XA'I 



the highest points of Euwenzori were, firstly, the distances to be traversed 

 at high altitudes, with a temperature not far off freezing-point; the 

 extremely arduous nature of the last part of the climb, where precipitous 

 walls of rock or ice require an Alpine equipment for their ascent ; the 

 non-existence of any guides whatever above snow-line ; and deficiency in 

 the means of transporting the necessary appliances for shelter and supplies 



* W. G. Doggett and Wallis Vale. Subsequently ^Messrs. "Wylde and "Ward, 



of the Uganda Administration, ascended along our route to the snow, and were 

 stopped l)y the same obstacles. 



VOL. I. 11 



