208 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



where a broad even road led into the heart of a hill. 

 It passed between two great balustrades of rock, and 

 through a vast archway supported by columnar pillars ; 

 then a wall of stones barred the passage, stones that 

 had been gathered there by human hands, for here 

 too sacrifice was once made. Beyond them the path 

 bent inwards, and ended in an immense circular hall, 

 walled by sheer cliffs, and roofless. A high tiered 

 balcony ran half round the arena, and on the farther 

 side a shelf of rock jutted out, the canopy to some 

 god's throne. In its splendour and majesty it was a 

 veritable Walhalla, fit setting for the Nibelungen Ring. 

 From the waters of Lake Chad the Rhine -maidens 

 might well have called for their lost treasure ; Froh's 

 wondrous rainbow might have bridged the space be- 

 tween one hill and another ; and the Walkiire assem- 

 bled with the heroes in that mighty hall. Now it 

 remains glorious in the desolation of the Gotter- 

 dammerung. 



The Talbots meanwhile had climbed one of the group, 

 and found it burning hot to the touch, and smoke rose 

 from it. Volcanic action was impossible, and probably 

 the strange efiect was produced by dust from the burnt 

 grass. 



By the time they rejoined me, and we had together 

 completed our survey of the group, Mrs Talbot felt 

 tired, and yielded to her husband's wish that she 

 should go back to camp and rest. He and I, however, 

 were bent on climbing the single peak, the highest of 

 the four. 



The natives told us it was impossible, and that no 

 man, white or black, had been rash enough to attempt 

 it, though French scientific expeditions had been there. 



