CHAPTEK X 



SNOW MOUNTAINS, SOME SOCIETY, AND CLOTHES 



Mount Kenia, Mount Kilimanjaro — other mountains — the plains 

 — wet and heat in Nairobi — race week — what to wear in 

 Nairobi — exercise and games — oflBcialism. 



I SHALL never forget the first morning I saw the 

 snow-capped mountain of Kenia in its full glory. 

 Several times already I have referred to the views 

 across the plains which we had from our second 

 bungalow. So often Kenia is to be seen with its 

 top encircled by clouds — it is what other authors 

 have called a "sky mountain". But one day 

 before breakfast I saw it from my verandah in 

 perfect clearness, with the early morning sun 

 shining on its snowy top ; with field glasses even the 

 glaciers could be plainly seen, with their dark-look- 

 ing crevasses showing distinctly. One's feelings on 

 first seeing the mountain cannot be described, — 

 they are beyond it. One has to just gaze and 

 gaze and drink it all in. The supreme grandeur 

 overpowers one till surroundings are forgotten. 

 Kenia always affected me as no other mountain ever 

 could. Most likely because it stands in solitary 

 state, with no other mountain near to mar the 



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