124 THE PLAINS OF RUISAMBA 



to the west that peak really was, the Duke was still 

 inclined to the opinion that it was the same as 

 Johnston's Duwoni. We had many conversations 

 on the subject, but I think he was still a little 

 sceptical, though very much interested, about the 

 view which we had seen from Kiyanja. 



The expedition stayed for three days at Toro, and 

 started for Ruwenzori on June i. I travelled with 

 them until the following day, when they turned off 

 into the mountains at Butanuka. 



During the following weeks of fine weather, when 

 we were still quite close to Ruwenzori, I confess 

 to having felt many a bitter pang of envy. I used 

 to walk almost daily to a spot from which I could 

 see the snows and wished myself among them ; but 

 the mountains were in the best possible hands, and 

 the completely successful result of the Duke of the 

 Abruzzi's expedition is now a matter of history. 



Without making any invidious comparisons, it 

 may be remarked that, if the Colonial Administration 

 had spared a tenth part of the assistance, which they 

 lavished on the Italian expedition, to make smooth 

 the way for an expedition sent out by a department 

 of their own Government, we should have been 

 grateful. Though the local causes are of course 

 different, it is the same spirit, which in India prompts 

 us to assist the expeditions of foreigners, who wish 

 to explore the high mountain regions about Thibet, 

 while at the same time refusing permission to our 

 own countrymen. 



