112 In the Heart of Africa 



Yet the Virunga volcanic region still remained a terra incognita 

 in many respects, and it was not possible that it should be 

 otherwise. The animal and plant world, and more especially 

 the geological conditions, concealed many problems not yet 

 solved. And thus a great deal of work had been left here for 

 our expedition to accomplish. We now set ourselves to attempt 

 a solution of these open questions, by thorough expert investiga- 

 tion and systematic work. 



I must decline in this place to handle exhaustively the subject 

 of the results of our explorations in the volcanic territory. 

 They may be left for discussion in scientific treatises. The 

 chief object of the following pages is to present to the reader 

 in broad and general outlines an intelligible picture of the 

 volcanoes and of their neighbouring territory round Lake Kiwu, 

 and to afford him an impression, if only a fleeting one, of the 

 mysterious sway exercised by the subterranean powers visible in 

 the great Central Africa rift-valley, without doubt one of the most 

 stupendous excavations in the earth's surface that is known. 



A glance at the map shows that the Virunga volcanoes may 

 be separated into three clearly distinct groups : a western, a 

 middle, and an eastern group. The western group, by far the 

 most interesting, is the scene of the most recent volcanic out- 

 breaks, and comprises Mounts Namlagira and Ninagongo, which 

 are still active. The eastern and central groups, on the contrary, 

 are each composed of three extinct volcanoes. The middle group 

 contains Mikeno, Karissimbi and Wissoke ; whilst the eastern 

 one is composed of three volcanic cones, Sabinjo, Mgahinga and 

 Muhawura, the last of which is visible in clear weather as the 

 most eastern extremity of the Virunga, and can be seen as far 

 away as Karagwe and Ankole. 



The nearest volcano to Kissenji is Ninagongo, the base of 

 which may be reached in a three-hours' march. The way thither 

 is not particularly charming, as it winds through an unbroken 

 line of fields. At the foot of the mountain their number was 

 still so large that we had trouble in finding a free spot in which 

 to pitch our tents. But Kissubi, the black guide, who attached 



