436 THROUGH AFRICA FROM THE CAPE TO CAIJRO. 



pease, beans, and edible arum wherever there is an open space between 

 the endless banana plantations. The western portion, which has been 

 recently covered by a lava stream, is not yet sufficiently disintegrated 

 for cultivation, though it already supports a heavy bush growth which 

 bursts from every crack and craiuiy in the lava blocks. 



The main xolcanoes are six in number, two of which are ai^tive; 

 the other foui- ha\ c long been extinct. Owing to the impossibility 

 of o))taining repi-cscntative names for them — 1 have <)])tain('d as many 

 as thirty-six for the highest in one camp — T have ventured to name the 

 most im])()rtaiit to prevent confusion. Of the two western jjcaks, 

 which are sh:ir})ly se])ai'ated from the other four, the higher peak, 

 generally descrilted as Kirunga, I have called Mount (nit/en, after 

 Count (lotzen, who discovered Kivu and made the ascent of the peak 

 to the main cratt'r. which is still mildly active. The second one, Avhich 

 has formed since Count (ifUzen's visit, I have called Mount Sharp, 

 after my feUow-ti-aveller, Mr. A. H. Sharp. Count Oiitzen mentions 

 consideral>le activity on the far jioint of the northwestern ridge, and, 

 according to the natives, two years ])efore our ari"ival in the country 

 there had been a terrific eruption, in the course of which the volcano 

 formed; its crater ap})ears to l)e enoi-mous, and nuist b(» several miles 

 in extent. The lava flowed in two main streams toward the north, 

 and there was a minor overflow to the southwest. The largest 

 stream flowed down by the arete ]>etween Mounts Gotzen and Shai'p, 

 and a small overflow running, as I have mentioned, southwest, while 

 the main volume poured down into the south end of the Ruchuru 

 Valley, down which it flowed for a distance of about 80 miles, work- 

 ing close up to and tilling the small bays of the eastern terrace. 

 Shortly after another wave followed over the same course, leaving 

 a sharply deflned terrace when it cooled. Then there appears to 

 have been a terrific vomiting forth of huge blocks of lava and ash, 

 which in places are piled to a height of 30 feet on the top of the main 

 lava stream. The forest with which the valley was clothed was 

 entirely engulfed in the stream's course, while the forest on the sides 

 was blown down bv the attendant whirlwinds. The natives informed 

 me that whole herds of elephants were destroyed. I myself saw the 

 bones of one that had been forced up to the top bv the edge of the 

 stream. As far as I could gather, the eruption had been very sudden, 

 but I found it extremely difficult to obtain much information beyond 

 the fact that suddenly there was darkness as the darkness of night, 

 when all became fire, and terrible and wonderful things happened, of 

 which there can be no words. As in all things that the native can not 

 understand, there was a distinct aversion to talking about it. All my 

 questions met with a similar response, and they rapidly changed the 

 subject. The other main stream which flowed down the northwest 

 slope was of enormous extent, but as I merely crossed it I had no 



