44 AFRICA SPEAKS 



moment. While we were speaking we heard the unmis- 

 takable roar and rattle that had become an integral 

 part of this remarkable outfit. The Baron gazed 

 toward it and, when it drew up alongside and stopped, 

 he took a quick glance and then turning to me queried 

 hopefully, "This is not it.^^" For a few seconds no one 

 spoke, then fixing my gaze on the radiator cap I broke 

 the sad news: "Baron, I talie great pleasure in pre- 

 senting the result of your marvelous plans as inter- 

 preted and carried into being by the Indian fimdi in 

 Mombasa.*' He took another look, gulped a couple 

 of times, and then turning around to us, said, "Boys, 

 let's have a drink." 



After luncheon and good-bys we took the route be- 

 tween the two peaks of Meru and Kilimanjaro and 

 made our evening camp at Longido. Some of the most 

 marvelous scenery in the world was ours to enjoy this 

 day, for from our camp of the morning until that of 

 the night, we were always close under the snow-capped 

 peak of Africa's greatest mountain. 



This giant that sleeps under the equator is quite 

 different from any other of the world's great moun- 

 tains. Its snowy peak is no sharp point, but rather a 

 long, bare ridge, over which the white mantle is draped, 

 extending downwards many thousands of feet toward 

 the timber fine. Many of the rare African animals 

 live on its slopes, and it is still a favorite haunt of 

 the elephant. From its eternal snows many cool, clear 

 streams rush into the thirsty lands below. 



Longido's hills saw some of the hottest fighting 

 during the East African campaign of the World War, 

 but the crack of rifle fire has long ago died away and 

 ihe hills again belong to their ancient inhabitants, the 



