144 In the Heart of Africa 



This continued during the early morning, so that we could 

 see but little in ascending. A trifle higher up the air grew 

 clearer and at moments we obtained through the driving clouds 

 glimpses of the rugged rocks at the summit. 



The vegetation also changed. The forest region ceased. 

 Tall bushes of heath appeared with thick branched boughs and 

 gnarled trees five metres high. Long beard-mosses, typical 

 features of the Alpine world, hung down from the branches. 



We advanced higher up on the south-east edge of the abyss 

 and the way grew steeper. The thick carpet of moss covering 

 the ground yielded to our steps, causing some of the carriers 

 to slip and fall, and here and there a heavy load went rolling 

 down into the depths till it stuck on some projection or hung 

 on a heath bush. It was necessary, on reaching an elevation of 

 3,700 metres, to take another lengthy halt for the sake of the 

 fatigued carriers. 



As the caravan was impeding our ascent Wiese remained 

 behind to control it, whilst we hastened forward. The incline 

 was so steep at times that we had to use our hands in climbing. 



After a time we caught sight of an extended narrow ridge 

 which looked a likely place for camping. The whole of the 

 vegetation at this point bore quite a decided Alpine character. 

 The slopes were covered with a broad belt of Senecio J ohnstonii, 

 and tall lobelias, mingled with immortelles, extended to the 

 almost perpendicular rocks of the summit, which stretched up 

 another four hundred metres in front of us. The sun emerged 

 from the clouds and diffused a comforting warmth for a few 

 short moments, whilst our eyes roved enchanted over the glorious 

 prospect, which included two-thirds of Lake Kiwu. 



Our patience was severely taxed whilst waiting for the 

 caravan, which arrived late in the afternoon, everyone being 

 thoroughly exhausted. The ridge on which we were forced to 

 camp was hollowed out by atmospheric influences, and it was 

 so narrow that the edges of the tents reached beyond it and 

 it was hardly possible to fix the pegs. The soft ground, more- 

 over, offered insufficient security. So it was with troubled and 



