122 In the Heart of Africa 



The support he had afforded us, the solicitous care with which 

 he had smoothed our way, the circumspection with which he had 

 provided for our commissariat, had conduced in no small degree 

 to lighten our laborious task and to promote the success of our 

 expedition. 



Soon after, we paid a visit to the mission station at Ruasa, 

 which impressed us as being very well cared for, cleanly kept 

 and tastefully laid out. We were received in a very friendly 

 manner and treated to such excellent dishes and beverages that 

 it needed some little effort to make our way back to the camp 

 along by the pretty falls of the Mkunga. 



Knecht having returned to Kissenji, we turned to the north 

 with the purpose of fixing some settled quarters on the high- 

 lying saddle between the volcanoes of Sabinjo and Mgahinga. 

 We followed a long upward inclining road. The temperature, 

 which had been high at the start, sank gradually as we ascended. 

 Ever since noon a pelting rain had been pouring down, which 

 turned the path into a mountain torrent, and at the finish it 

 grew so cold that we were well-nigh frozen. 



As we did not know where Weidemann — who had marched 

 here with reserve stores direct from Kissenji — had pitched his 

 camp, a patrol was despatched to search, and to advise us by 

 signal gun when the camp was sighted. The rest of us, when 

 we had reached the thickly wooded saddle, crowded together, 

 black and white alike, around a smouldering fire until the 

 appointed signal relieved our suspense. A further march of 

 half an hour brought us to our destination. 



Weidemann had been encamped for two days in a forest 

 glade, and had already had the foresight to erect a protecting 

 bancla (roofing) of bamboo, which proved of great service to 

 us, for during the following days the thermometer never 

 indicated more than 13 degrees Celsius, even at the warmest 

 hour of the day, and sank at night to one degree or even to 

 freezing point. In addition to this a cutting wind whistled 

 through the valley, chilling us to the marrow, and one night 

 even swept Wiese's tent away. We were at an elevation of 2,600 



