Chapter X. 



wliicli the valley again narrows into a gorge formed by the north- 

 ward prolongation of tlie spin- on whose southern extremity rises 

 the Cagni Peak. This spur runs so far across the valley as 

 almost to meet the long and considerable buttress which 

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

 or left wall of the valley. Upon the ridge of this sjnu' of 

 Mt. Speke stands the extraordinary monolith of rock, with 

 regular and architectural lines, which had been one of the first 

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



The way leads down the 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 tliis 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 gorge 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, which springs from a little lake fed by 

 the lolanda Glacier of Mt. Gessi, and tlie Waigga which 

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



On reaching this plain, they encamped in a suitable 

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

 spur on the right side of the valley in a clearing of the forest 

 all full of blossoming helichrysum. The spot was lovely, the 

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

 towered up the rocky peaks of the North Portal. 



This Camp, marked No. IX on tlie map, was their starting 

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

 left unclimbed. 



266 



