LAST VIEW OF RUWENZORI 171 



attention were not drawn to it by the great herd 

 of hippos which always guard it, we passed down 

 the west side of the lake. Mountains 3,000 or 

 4,000 feet high slope abruptly to the lake, so 

 steeply that it is only in a very few places that 

 there is any space for cultivation on the lake-shore. 

 From one of our camping-places we saw a 

 wonderful view of the highest peaks of Ruwenzori in 

 the far distance to the north : 



*. . . far off, three mountain-tops, 

 Three silent pinnacles of aged snow, 

 Stood sunset-flush'd.' 



It was a view not to be forgotten — our last glimpse 

 of the range — and it was some small compensation 

 for the ungenerous way in which we had been 

 treated before by Ruwenzori. 



