The Discovery of Ruwenzori. 
of Ruwenzori was reserved neither for him, nor for Emin Pasha, 
or Mason, both of whom subsequently visited the lake. 
TUSKS CONFISCATED BY THE GOVERNMENT, UGANDA. 
Stanley is probably right in attributing the extraordinary 
lack of atmospheric transparency, which renders these moun¬ 
tains invisible even in fair weather, to vapours exhaled 
from the surrounding plains and exposed to the heat of the 
tropical sun. Occasionally a breeze sweeps away these vapours. 
At such times, as if by magic, the snow-clad ranges loom into 
sight only to vanish again and leave the onlooker in doubt and 
uncertainty as to the actual reality of the magnificent vision 
vouchsafed to him. 
The discovery of this vast system of snow mountains 
shedding their waters into lakes, whence one of the greatest 
Nile branches takes its origin, finally brought to an end that 
quest after the sources of the classic river which had played 
so large a part in the history of geographical investigation. 
b 2 
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