In the Volcanic Region i47 



It was high time to return as hastily as possible from the 

 snowfield to camp, as thick layers of fog were beginning to 

 rise up from the valley. So on a jutting mass of rock we care- 

 fully laid down a preserved meat tin containing our names as a 

 record that, so far, this was the highest point on Mikeno which 

 human foot had ever trod. On getting down we were again 

 enveloped in fog, and it was with some difficulty that we suc- 

 ceeded in groping our way back to camp. Our frugal evening 

 meal consisted of a few boxes of herrings and a tin of fruit. 

 The night corresponded to the preceding one. The wind 

 heightened to a gale, and shook our tents, and the pegs kept 

 loosening. When morning drew near the mountains were again 

 covered with a white cloak, and the fog had grown denser. 

 The loads were strapped up and we began the descent to 

 Burunga. The faces of our sorely-tried carriers lightened up, 

 and they even attempted to strike up a song with their weak 

 throats. Soberly we set out for the camping place lying deeper 

 below, hurrying ahead of the caravan. Arrived there we made a 

 light meal and gave the carriers a rest, and in the afternoon 

 we were back in Burunga once more. The carriers came in 

 singly and at long intervals, completely exhausted. Some even 

 remained to rest on their way and did not reach Burunga until 

 night. By a judicious distribution of extra baksheesh they were, 

 however, soon restored to good humour. 



On the first of November we set about making the ascent 

 of Namlagira, whose eruptions have ceased of late, but from 

 whose broad crater at that time we daily saw the vaporous clouds 

 ascending. 



Namlagira is separated from Burunga, as also from Nina- 

 gongo, by an extensive lava field which evidently emanates from 

 the subsidiary craters on its southern slopes. The lava strata 

 lie over one another about a foot in thickness, and pile them- 

 selves like ice-floes at a river's mouth. These had to be clam- 

 bered over, and where broad fissures appeared long alpenstocks 

 had to be used to leap the yawning clefts. These lava drifts 

 are interspersed with jagged points of block lava. The latter 



