CHAPTER I. 
The Discovery and previous Explorations of Ruwenzori. 
Stanley’s first sight of the Snow-peaks—Ruwenzori and the “ Mountains of the 
Moon ” of Ptolemy—Discussions and Dissensions between Geographers—- 
Exploration of Stairs, Stuhlmann and Scott Elliot—Moore discovers the 
Glaciers at the head of the Mobuku Valley—Repeated attempts to climb the 
Mountains from the Mobuku Valley—Ascent made by David upon the 
western slope—British Museum Expedition—First peaks ascended—What 
was known about Ruwenzori in the beginning of 1906. 
On the 24th of May, 1888, 
Henry Stanley, in the midst of 
his longest and most venturesome 
African journey, while crossing the 
narrow strip of coast which forms 
the south-west bank of Lake Albert 
Nyanza, between Nsabe and 
Badzwa, beheld for the first time 
the snowy peaks of Ruwenzori : 
“ When about five miles from 
Nsabe camp, wdiile looking to the 
south-east and meditating upon 
the events of the last month, my 
eyes were attracted by a boy to a mountain, said to be covered 
with salt, and I saw a peculiar-shaped cloud of a most beautiful 
silver colour which assumed the proportions and appearance of a 
1 
B 
