Chapter X. 



mIìÌcIì tlie valley again narrows into a gorge formed by the north- 

 ward prolongation of the sj)nr on wliose southern extremity rises- 

 the Cagni Peak. This spin- runs so far across the valley a& 

 almost to meet the long and considerable buttress which 

 stretches from Mt. Speke eastward and forms so fiir the northern 

 or left wall of the valley. Upon the ridge of this spur of 

 Mt. Speke stands the extraordinary monolith of rock, with 

 regular and architectural lines, wliicli liad been one of the first 

 features noticed by them in the ascents of Mt. Baker. 



The way leads down tlie right side of the gorge, which 

 is clothed at the bottom with a dense forest of heaths, which 

 would have caused them to waste a good deal of time had 

 a track not been already cut. They came out of this gorge 

 upon a third plain of more ample dimensions, into which open 

 several tributary valleys from the north. One of these runs 

 up to the north-west behind the east spur of Mt. Speke,. 

 and at its head forms the narrow fforo-e between Mt. Emin 

 and Mt. Gessi. This is the Migusi Valley. Two more 

 valleys, divided by a minor ridge, are traversed by the 

 torrent Kurungu, wliicli springs from a little lake fed by 

 the Iolanda Glacier of Mt. Gessi, and the Waia;o;a which 

 also flows from a lake at the foot of the North Portal. 



On reaching tliis ])lain, they encamped in a suitable 

 place (11,503 feet), near a sheltering rock at the foot of a. 

 s])ur on the right side of the valley in a clearing of the forest 

 all full of blossoming heliclnysum. The spot was lovelv, the 

 slopes of the valley clad witli dense forest, while before them 

 towered u]) the rocky peaks of the North Portal. 



This Cam}), marked No. IX on the iiiaj), was tlicir starting 

 point for the ascent of Mt. Gessi, the last mountain still 

 left unci imbed. 



L'6G 



