NATURE 
[JANUARY 17, 1907 
282 
7o° from the plane of the galaxy, the position of its 
densest part being R.A.=oh. 57-4m., dec.=+1° 20! 
(1885). 
This nebulosity is also remarkable in appearance ; 
around the densest region there extends a quantity of 
nebulous matter of varying intensity showing small clouds 
of increased intensity at several points. Further out the 
intensity becomes so feeble that it is impossible to define 
its limits, and Prof. Wolf expects that a longer exposure 
than the four hours which he gave may materially extend 
the nebulosity seen on the plate. Three B.D. stars are 
involved in the cloud, which extends about 40’ in declin- 
ation and 30/ in R.A. When examined under the micro- 
scope the brighter parts of the image are filled with 
numerous minute spots and short trails, and Prof. Wolf 
thinks it possible that the cloud may consist of a multi- 
tudinous congregation of very small planetary nebule 
which a more powerful instrument may be able to resolve. 
The present plates were taken with the 16-inch Bruce 
telescope (Monthly Notices, November, 1906). 
PeriopicaL Comet Due to RETURN IN 1907.—Only one 
periodical comet is due to return during the current year, 
that discovered by Giacobini at Nice on December 20, 
1900. As observed then it was very faint, and showed 
only a small nebulous disc, without any tail. As its 
period is about seven years, according to the elements 
calculated by Prof. Kreutz, and as it passed through peri- 
helion about December 3, 1900, it is not likely to be re- 
discovered until nearly the end of the present year (the | 
Observatory, No. 379). 
Orsits oF TuHreE Dousie Stars.—The results of an 
investigation, by Prof. Doberck, of the orbits of ¢ Cancri, 
w Leonis, and H1I39 (= 3062), are published in Nos. 
4144-5 of the Astronomische Nachrichten. The 
gives a set of elements for the orbit of each system, and 
compares all the available observations with the calculated 
places; from a discussion of the whole he gives the prob- 
able error of the annual means. of each observer’s measures. 
According to the final elements, the respective periods of 
these three systems are approximately 60, 116-7, and 105-5 
years. 
THE DUKE OF THE ABRUZZI’S ASCENTS 
IN THE RUWENZORI RANGE. 
A T a crowded meeting of the Royal Geographical 
Society, held at the Queen’s Hall on January 12, and 
honoured by the presence of the King and the Prince of 
Wales, the Duke of the Abruzzi gave an interesting account 
of his recent exploration of the snowy summits. of the 
Ruwenzori range. It will be remembered that many 
attempts on these peaks have been made within the past 
few years, but that, owing rather to the climatic character 
of the range and its distance from an accessible base than 
to special difficulties from a mountaineer’s point of view, 
all the Duke’s predecessors had failed to reach its culmin- 
ating point. Profiting by the experience of these, the Duke 
was able to avoid the causes of their failure, his expedition 
being provided with all that forethought could suggest in 
the way of equipment, while he was also fortunate in 
securing trustworthy information as to the times of year 
at which the climatic conditions were likely to be most 
favourable. 
The Duke was accompanied by two Alpine guides and 
two porters, all from Courmayeur, as well as by experts 
entrusted with research in various scientific departments. 
including Major Cagni, his trusty companion on_ his 
previous expeditions, and Signor Sella, well known for 
his unique experience in mountain photography. Apart 
from the mountaineering interest of the expedition, there 
was much to be done before the topography or morphology 
of the range could be at all thoroughly understood. 
Captain Behrens, of the Anglo-German Boundary Com- 
mission, had, by triangulation, fixed the altitude of the 
highest summit within very narrow limits, and shown that 
it was much under the 20,000 feet attributed to it by some 
travellers. He had also fixed with considerable accuracy 
the position of the double culminating peak, recognised as 
the Kanyangungwe of Stuhlmann, but the number and 
NO. 1942, VOL. 75] 
author | 
relative positions of the several massifs were still matters 
of uncertainty. 
It is unnecessary to refer to the first part of the Duke’s 
address, dealing with the journey from the coast and final 
organisation of the expedition. The route adopted (after 
much deliberation) for the approach to the snows was that 
from the east by the Mobuko valley, followed by Moore, 
Johnston, Grauer, and others. During the toilsome march 
up this the Duke saw reason to doubt its being the best, 
and he subsequently found that the Bujuko, a northern 
branch, or even the main head-stream, of the Mobuko, 
possessed some advantages. After the usual difficulties had 
been overcome, the snows were at last reached, and a 
view of all the peaks obtained from a ridge running east 
from Kiyanja. To the north, four distinct snowy moun- 
tains, separated by well-marked depressions, were in view, 
the nearest and most westerly being crowned by two pairs 
of peaks, the loftiest of which were at once recognised as 
those seen from Butiti both by Freshfield and the Duke, 
while evidently quite distinct from the Duwoni_ of 
Johnston. This had already been suspected by Mr. 
Freshfield after receiving the account of Mr. Wollaston’s 
ascents. After ascending to the summit of Kiyanja it 
was decided to make a circuit to the south of this moun- 
tain, and after descending into a valley belonging to the 
° olo 
Bale Car 
Mt Thomson 
Rough Sketch of the Ruwenzori Peaks. 
Semliki system, to strike north for the saddle between the 
two highest peaks. During the descent of this valley a 
striking sunset view over the great Congo forest was 
obtained, and the Duke’s description was well reinforced 
by one of Signor Sella’s striking photographs. The ascent 
was successfully accomplished by the Duke and the guides 
on June 18, the chief difficulty arising from the 
mists and from an overhanging cornice, which required 
great care to negotiate. A peculiar feature was the 
presence of huge “‘ ice-stalactites,’? which supported the 
cornice. The twin peaks received the names of the Queens 
of Italy and England. Between June 22 and July 10 the 
Duke ascended all the main peaks, while his coadjutors 
prosecuted their own several tasks, Major Cagni com- 
pleting an excellent map, while Signor Sella pursued his 
phciographic labours, of the admirable results of which 
the audience had many specimens. 
To the individual massifs and peaks the Duke has given 
the names of distinguished explorers of the region and of 
Royal personages, although it may be doubted by some 
whether the native names which have already found 
their way into Ruwenzori literature are not more in 
harmony with the romantic aloofness of the range than 
any exotic appellations, however otherwise suitable. Even 
though not strictly belonging to the summits, the native 
