47 
Sckotnbiirgk^ Dr. Phil. 
western extremity of the Hiimirida mountains, their per- 
pendicular walls being gilded by the sun ; here we found 
the longed for settlement, which we welcomed with all our 
hearts. 
Our looks must have betrayed our wishes, for before we^ 
could utter a word we were assured that except maize and 
some bananas there was nothing eatable in the settlement. 
The former they had already roasted for us. 
The march of yesterday and to-day on empty stomachs had 
so exhausted us, that we required a day’s rest, for which we 
fixed the following day. A charming spot at the base of the 
Hiimirida mountain and the banks of a picturesque rivulet, 
flowing from the mountain, offered a beautiful camping 
place. According to the astronomical observation made at 
night our camp was under 4° 30' northern latitude. 
>Since leaving Torong-Yaiiwise it was almost regular that 
after sunset we would have a thunderstorm, which was as 
regularly followed by a clear beautiful night. To-day again 
we had the same phenomenon. Our rivulet changed in a 
very short time into a rapid raging stream. 
At daybreak our hunters, armed with guns, or bows and 
arrows, hastened to the savanna and mountains to supply the 
scanty table with something better than maize. 
Accompanied by two Indian boys I ascended the mountain 
to botanize, and was not disappointed with the result. The 
trouble and fatigue caused by climbing among the masses of 
projecting sandstone rocks was richly rewarded. Some of the 
rocks were covered with orchids, and with gigantic Til-- 
lanisias and Cacti. Ascending the mountain about 500 feet, 
I observed on the border of the forest, v/hich extended to the 
sandstone wall, a gigantic tree, covered wiih magnificent 
large red flowers, it was the Elisahetha Regia, Schomb., dis- 
covered by my late brother in his first expedition. 
Bo doubt the tree may be reckoned one of the greatest 
ornaments of the tropics, and vies in beauty with a most 
splendid production of the Eastern Hemisphere, the noble 
Amherstia, the not less distinguished Brownea, the rose of 
the tropical region. Arrived at the tree, it was found 
impossible to climb it, even from my little copper- coloured 
boys; one, who in consequence of his great agility in 
climbing had attained the nickname Matziki” (the tiger- 
cat), looked with eager eyes towards the knife I offered him 
as a reward Tor some flowering branches. Measuring the 
