i84 THE MFUMBIRO VOLCANOES 



Travelling southwards from Rutchuru to Lake 

 Kivu, we chose the route between Tsha-nion-gombe 

 and Tsha-nina-gongo. There is another recognized 

 route, which skirts the western slopes of Tsha- 

 nina-gongo, passing between that mountain and 

 Nyamlagiro ; but though this route is not nearly so 

 mountainous, it is somewhat longer, and, as it follows 

 lava streams all the way, there is even less chance 

 of finding water than there is on the route which we 

 followed. After crossing the Rutchuru River to its 

 left bank, we climbed steeply out of the valley, and 

 reached a more or less level terrace of very great 

 extent at the foot of Tsha-nion-gombe. This country 

 is inhabited by a large population, and almost the 

 whole extent of the terrace and the slopes above 

 it are carefully cultivated. 



The first camp which we made was near a village 

 called Bossuenda, a curious place perched precariously 

 on the edge of the terrace. The view from it was 

 not the least of the many striking views that we 

 saw in that region. As we looked south, we saw 

 towering up on our left hand the huge mass of 

 the volcanoes Tsha-nion-gombe and Karissimbi, 

 with their fertile slopes covered with cultivation ; 

 and down below on our right hand, in striking 

 contrast, was a scene of frightful desolation. Between 

 Tsha-nina-gongo and the main group of the volcanoes 

 there is a wide valley, which slopes gradually from 

 south to north, and widens out until it becomes 

 continuous with the plains of Lake Albert Edward- 



