98 CLIMBING IN RUWENZORI 



necessary food, we struggled on with less diffi- 

 culty. 



At a height of about 14,500 feet all our difficulties 

 were practically at an end ; we had passed beyond 

 the limit of the lobelias and the bushy ' everlastings,' 

 though another species [Helickrysujn stuklmajini) 

 was found up to 15,000 feet, and the senecios were 

 getting fewer, until at 14,800 feet they ceased 

 altogether. Rocks, partly moraine and partly blocks 

 that had fallen from a high cliff on our left, began 

 to replace the moss and mud — a most welcome 

 change. Very fortunately we had had a clear view 

 of the mountain earlier in the day, and had mapped 

 out the course that we proposed to take, noting 

 certain prominent landmarks. Had we not done so, 

 there would have been nothing for us to do but to 

 stay where we were or retrace our steps, as the 

 clouds were low down on the mountains when we 

 came to the foot of the rocks. However, we groped 

 our way blindly forwards, and luckily recognized a 

 big wall of granite rock, which had shown up con- 

 spicuously pink from below. Here, in order to 

 make certain, if possible, of finding our way back 

 through the fog, we filled our pockets with ' ever- 

 lasting' flowers, which we scattered, like Hansel 

 and Gretel, every few yards as we went along. 

 Often as I had maligned the ' everlastings ' before, 

 I blessed them that day ; they undoubtedly saved 

 us from a night out on the mountain-side, if not 

 from worse things. After climbing up a few hundred 



