our track had consistently risen* The total 

 amount of this elevation now amounted to close 

 on 6000 feet. The Jungle was fast becoming 

 too dense to penetrate. Therefore, as a final 

 coup before retracing our steps, we decided 

 to ascend a high volcanic cone lying close by 

 our course. From its summit, some 17,000 feet 

 above, much information might be gained. 

 A summer snow^cap descended for about 4000 

 feet, whilst a perpetual wreath of smoke curled 

 towards the sky from the summit. It was 

 noon three days later that we made our camp 

 just below the snow^line. The afternoon was 

 spent by most of us in a visit to the summit. 

 Hydrocarbons were escaping from fissures in 

 the ground near the summit, whilst continuous 

 flames played about the crater where the greater 

 heat kept the escaping gases ignited. The rocks 

 were very basic and heavy. Metallic iron 

 occurred in many of the outcrops, and copper 

 fibres were observed in not a few. However 

 interesting these observations were, they did 

 not prevent us drinking in the distant pano^ 

 rama. Far behind were the great salt sea and 

 saline borderlands. Ahead was a sea of jungle 

 spread over gradually rising plains. Beyond, 

 where frigid altitudes were reached, a great 

 snowy plateau carried the picture beyond the 



g 49 



