In the Volcanic Region i53 



my forehead. There could be no illusion, the mountain was 

 awakening to fresh activity! Aware of the terrible position in 

 which we were placed in the centre of the crater I immediately 

 gave orders to march back. And indeed it was high time, for the 

 lapilli was already beginning to rain like hail upon our heads ; 

 the volcanic fumes stifled our lungs and oppressed our chests ; 

 our breath grew shorter and shorter, and we could almost hear 

 our hearts beating. We groped our way forward in silence, 

 but the heavy fog prevented us from ascertaining our position. 

 My people, too, had entirely lost their heads. They charged 

 me with having brought down the wrath of the scheitam, or devil, 

 of the mountain upon us through having photographed him in 

 his dwelling-place, and denounced me for having led them to 

 their destruction. In short, after wandering aimlessly around 

 step by step, we continuously found our way barred by the 

 steeply rising crater walls, whilst the dull rolling thunder 

 momentarily increased in volume. It was a highly disagreeable, 

 indeed, a highly critical situation. I could feel the blood throb- 

 bing in my veins. Unless we found our way out of the mouse- 

 trap very quickly we were utterly lost. . . . Luckily for us the 

 thick veil of fog lifted. Only for a moment though. Yet it 

 sufficed. I had noted the position on the crater walls where 

 we might find our way out. A few moments later we were 

 standing up above on the edge of the crater, and a loud hurrah 

 sprang from our throats. We were saved from our peril. 

 My black followers skipped about for joy. Now, of course, 

 not one of them had entertained the slightest fear of the 

 scheitani. They were, naturally, far too enlightened for any- 

 thing of the sort, was the opinion of one of my Askari. . , . 



"I repeated the descent on the 15th of December. The 

 weather was clear and sunny and so I was able to make the 

 circuit of a large part of the inner crater-terrace, besides taking 

 some observations of much value to me. I also succeeded in 

 getting some capital photographs. The vapour formation was 

 of an extremely slight character, and a thorough examination of 



the different parts of the crater was possible. Besides the chief 



u 



