Chapter IV. 



The mountains seen and diawn by Stulihnann at tin- head 

 of the Butagn Valley to the west of the chain wtmld not, in 

 this case, have been the same as those seen from the east, 

 which the Italian expedition had observed from Kaibo and 

 Butiti. It seemed, therefore, a l)etter plan to attempt the 

 ascent from the western slope. 



These accounts perplexed the Duke greatly. If, on the one 

 baud, lie followed the route of bis predecessors up the Mohuku 

 Valley there was the risk, on leaching tlie peaks at the liead 

 of the vallev. of seeing liis wav to tlie liiii'lier sununits cut off bv 

 some deep valley or insuperable ridge. If, on the other hand, 

 he sliould resolve to try the western slopes, it would l)ecome 

 necessarv to make a loni>' detour across the low reoions, throusb 

 malarial districts, in order to turn tlie southern end of the 



XATI\K HUT. 



chain and reach the Sendiki Vallev. Here, there would be 

 uncertainty as to the sufRciencv of local resoiu'ces to feed so 

 numerous an expedition, and still greater uncertainty as to 



10:.' 



