Chapter ÌX. 



give proof of marvellous Mgility. They jump from trunk to 

 trunk ; they crouch or crawl to slip their loads under the lower 

 branches ; they perform miracles of ecpiilihrium upon sloping- 

 trunks, walking all the time so fast that it is difficult to 

 keep up with them. 



The path now returns to the Mohuku, which here is a mere 

 Alpine stream buried in the fantastic vegetation on its banks, 

 and roofed over witli the strange branches mingling and crossing- 

 above it. The yellow-brown waters are witliout fish or any 

 •other form of animal life. The expedition crossed this stream 

 to its right l)ank, and reached the foot of another ledge, about 

 600 feet high, formed by an ancient moraine, and likewise 

 covered with lieath forest and underwood of tall ferns, creeping 

 plants, orchids and thorny brambles laden with blossoms 

 and witli unripe blackberries. In their shade grow violets, 

 ranunculus, geraniums, epilobium, mnbelliferous species and 

 thistles. The ledge leads to the third terrace, where there 

 is another rock shelter called Buamba, 11,542 feet above 

 the sea. 



Once upon the l)row of this ledge and out of the oppressive 

 lifelessness of the licath forest, the expedition found itself 

 suddenly and without transition in the presence of a picture 

 totally different, though no less strange. The long level valley 

 bottom, walled in by towering cliffs on either side, stretched up 

 to the foot of another step, beyond which the valley narrowed 

 into a gorge where stands the shelter of Bujongolo. The peak 

 of Kiyanja *" with its glaciers rose fai- off and high above the 

 head of tlie valley. 



Tlie whole valley on every side as far as you could see was 

 one mass of luxuriant vegetation oi" indescribable strangeness. 

 * Edward Peak of Mt. Baker. 



