CHAP. XII. RETURN OF MR. THORNTON. 323 



every part of the interior of their bodies. The breath 

 passes through and round about the lungs — bathes the 

 surfaces of the viscera, and enters the cavities of the 

 bones; it even penetrates into some spaces between the 

 muscles of the neck — and thus not only is the most per- 

 fect oxygenation of the blood secured, but, the temper- 

 ature of the blood being very high, the air in every part 

 is rarefied, and the great lightness and vigour provided 

 for, that the habits of birds require. Several birds were 

 found by Dr. Kirk to have marrow in the tibiae, though 

 these bones are generally described as hollow. 



During the period of our detention on the shallow part 

 of the river in March, Mr. Thornton came up to us from 

 Shupanga : he had, as before narrated, left the Expedition 

 in 1859, and joined Baron van der Decken, in the journey 

 to Kilimanjaro, when, by an ascent of the mountain to 

 the height of 8000 feet, it was first proved to be covered 

 with perpetual snow, and the previous information 

 respecting it, given by the Church of England Mission- 

 aries, Krapf and Eebman, confirmed. It is now well 

 known that the Baron subsequently ascended the Kili- 

 manjaro to 14,000 feet, and ascertained its highest peak to 

 be at least 20,000 feet above the sea. Mr. Thornton made 

 the map of the first journey, at Shupanga, from materials 

 collected when with the Baron ; and when that work 

 was accomplished, followed us. He was then directed 

 to examine geologically the Cataract district, but not 

 to expose himself to contact with the Ajawa until the 

 feelings of that tribe should be ascertained. 



The members of Bishop Mackenzie's party, on the 

 loss of their head, fell back from Magomero on the high- 

 lands, to Chibisa's, in the low-lying Shire Valley; and 

 Thornton, finding them suffering from want of animal 

 food, kindly volunteered to go across thence to Tette, and 

 bring a supply of goats and sheep. We were not aware of 



