548 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
occasion to remark, the mountain is divided into the 
great central mass of Ivibo, and the lower conical peak of 
Kimawenzi. Towards the north-west it shades away 
into a long ridge which gradually tapers horizontally 
and vertically till it becomes merged in the Masai 
plain. 
The southern aspect of this stupendous mountain 
(which Von der Decken by triangulation has ascertained 
to be little short of 19,000 feet at its highest point on 
Kibo) forms the country of Chaga, which may be de- 
VIEW OF KILIMANJARO ACROSS LAKE CHALA. 
scribed as a great platform, basement, or terrace, from 
which the dome and peak abruptly rise. This platform 
may be described as rising from 4000 to 6000 feet over 
ten miles of rounded ridges, and characterized by deep 
glens at its broadest part. The features of this region, 
though in themselves rich and pleasing in the extreme, 
and presenting a smiling aspect with variegated planta- 
tions, yet somewhat detract from the imposing grandeur 
of the mountain, as the eye has to wander a distance of 
more than fifteen miles, before Kibo, at a height of some 
12,000 feet, springs precipitously heavenward. 
