CHAPTER VII 



EXPLORATION AND GORILLA HUNTING AMONGST THE 

 VOLCANOES OF THE VIRUNGA MOUNTAINS 



Shadows of delicate dawning are creeping beneath the trees, 

 Mystical murmurs of morning are floating upon the breeze — 

 There's joy in the City's clamour — pageants of pleasure, and glamour. 

 But nevertheless, my wasters, there are worthier things than these ! " 



The Out-station. Verse I. 



LET me put it on record that the treatment accorded 

 our tiny expedition during its five weeks' work in 

 the Kisenji district was all and more that could be 

 desired. And this at a time when our English papers and the 

 powers-that-be were slanging the Belgians right and left for 

 hanging on to the Ruanda and Burundi, for which they had 

 fought and won. Our kind friend Monsieur Verhulst, Chef 

 de Poste of Kisenji, went so far as offering to feed us free of 

 charge, whilst the genial Commandant HoUants, of Saisi 

 fame, not to mention Lieut. Lecoque of the Soke fight, were 

 kindness itself from the very first. Our sojourn therefore 

 in this delightful spot proved to be a very happy one. 



Soon after our arrival we had speedily made ourselves 

 at home in one of the lava-built houses to be found there, 

 and almost immediately I set about the task of making pre- 

 parations for the ascent of Ninagongo, which stood beckoningly 

 on the northern horizon. 



As Commandant Hollants decided to join me in the venture, 

 good porters were soon forthcoming, and we left Kisenji well 

 equipped on September 19th, to take the track that leads the 

 traveller by devious lava-strewn ways to a small rest-house 



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