46 THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 



canon for a couple of miles, then camped below two 

 enormous peaks, one of which we named Mount Bell- 

 field in honour of the present governor of British East 

 Africa. We are now in the heart of the range, and 

 accept with thankfulness each mile vouchsafed us. A 

 narrow forest bordered a stream of beautiful clear 

 water. Never have I seen so marvellous a display of 

 curtain vines and gorgeous flowering trees. 



Six hours; 13 miles; elevation, 5,800; morning, 49; 

 noon, 84; night, 58. 



July 21. — The outlook was now so very uncertain 

 that Cuninghame and I scouted ahead before breaking 

 camp at all. Enormous rugged mountains compassed 

 us about, and we feared the river would end in an im- 

 passable gorge. We took a rhino track that speedily 

 led us into a caiion bed with a wonderful forest of great 

 trees, looped snaky vines, lacy underbrush, tree ferns? 

 and flowering bushes. There were many baboons 

 and monkeys swinging about. The sun rarely pene- 

 trated. Great rock clififs towered at either hand, and 

 the clear stream dashed down cataracts and waterfalls 

 among the boulders. 



The rhino track led true for some distance, then 

 petered out to a monkey trail and ended in a gorge. 

 There was evidently no further way down the stream 

 bed. If we were to win through, it must be by way of 

 the steeps on either hand. Therefore I tackled the 

 slope to the right, while Cuninghame took the other. 



