CHAP. VIII.] 
ENTER THE MOUNTAINS. 
307 
party all assembled on the flat summit. From this 
elevated point we had a superb view of the surrounding 
country, and I took the compass bearing of the Latooka 
mountain Gebel Lafeet, N. 45° E. The natives of the 
village that we had now reached had nothing to sell 
but a few beans, therefore without further delay we 
commenced the descent upon the opposite side, and at 
2.40 p.m. we reached the base, the horses and donkeys 
having scrambled over the great blocks of stone with 
the greatest labour. At the foot of the hill the country 
was park-like and well wooded, although there was no 
very large timber. Here the grass was two feet high 
and growing rapidly, while at Latooka all was barren. 
Halted at 5.20 p.m. on the banks of a small running 
stream, a tributary to the Kanieti. The night being 
fine we slept well; and the next morning at 6 a.m. we 
commenced the most lovely march that I have ever 
made in Africa. Winding through the very bosom of 
the mountains, well covered with forest until the bare 
granite peaks towered above all vegetation to the height 
of about 5,000 feet, we continued through narrow 
valleys bordered by abrupt spurs of the mountains 
from 1,500 to 2,000 feet high. On the peak of each 
was a village; evidently these impregnable positions 
were chosen for security. At length the great ascent 
was to be made, and for two hours we toiled up a steep 
X 2 
