Gorilla Hunting 



The circle of the crater-floor on which we camped was a good 

 half-mile in diameter. It was covered with short grass inter- 

 spersed with giant lobelias growing over a perfectly uniform 

 and flat crust of iron-like lava, with a surface resembling 

 ironstone. Completely surrounding us stood the circle of 

 cliffs composing the sides of the crater-mouth and we felt 

 to be, as we probably were, the first white men to camp down 

 in such an unique spot as the depth of an unbroken crater. 



In the afternoon, and again the following morning, I set 

 myself the task of trying to find the cause of the column of 

 vapour we had seen from above, but nothing could I dis- 

 cover amidst the tangled growths from which it had appeared 

 to issue. 



After this, and owing to the fact that the water supply 

 for ourselves and our natives had now run out, there was 

 nothing for it but to make the best of our way back to Kisenji. 

 This we accordingly did and so pleasantly ending one of those 

 unforgettable experiences that go to even up the hard knocks 

 that Africa so frequently deals out. 



After paying a short visit to Goma on the lake shore, 

 a few miles north of Kisenji, and examining the interesting 

 volcanic features to be seen there, I began to make ready for 

 a longer trip which was to include the exploration of the 

 volcanoes of Mikeno, Karisimbi and Visoke, where I hoped 

 to discover new insects and perhaps meet with the gorilla. 



All was again ready for this second excursion b}^ the 

 morning of September 27th, so again regretfully saying farewell 

 to my wife I set out, accompanied only by my Wahutu 

 carriers. On this trip I made the fatal mistake of leaving 

 without an adequate supply of food, and relying, as I did, on 

 obtaining sufficient from local chiefs it nearly cost me dear. 



77 



