I 12 
In the Heart of Africa 
Yet the Virunga volcanic region still remained a terra incognita 
in many respects, and it was not possible that it should be 
otherwise. The animal and plant world, and more especially 
the geological conditions, concealed many problems not yet 
solved. And thus a great deal of work had been left here for 
our expedition to accomplish. We now set ourselves to attempt 
a solution of these open questions, by thorough expert investiga¬ 
tion and systematic work. 
I must decline in this place to handle exhaustively the subject 
of the results of our explorations in the volcanic territory. 
They may be left for discussion in scientific treatises. The 
chief object of the following pages is to present to the reader 
in broad and general outlines an intelligible picture of the 
volcanoes and of their neighbouring territory round Lake Kiwu, 
and to afford him an impression, if only a fleeting one, of the 
mysterious sway exercised by the subterranean powers visible in 
the great Central Africa rift-valley, without doubt one of the most 
stupendous excavations in the earth’s surface that is known. 
A glance at the map shows that the Virunga volcanoes may 
be separated into three clearly distinct groups: a western, a 
middle, and an eastern group. The western group, by far the 
most interesting, is the scene of the most recent volcanic out¬ 
breaks, and comprises Mounts Namlagira and Ninagongo, which 
are still active. The eastern and central groups, on the contrary, 
are each composed of three extinct volcanoes. The middle group 
contains Mikeno, Karissimbi and Wissoke; whilst the eastern 
one is composed of three volcanic cones, Sabinjo, Mgahinga and 
Muhawura, the last of which is visible in clear weather as the 
most eastern extremity of the Virunga, and can be seen as far 
away as Karagwe and Ankole. 
The nearest volcano to Kissenji is Ninagongo, the base of 
which may be reached in a three-hours’ march. The way thither 
is not particularly charming, as it winds through an unbroken 
line of fields. At the foot of the mountain their number was 
still so large that we had trouble in finding a free spot in which 
to pitch our tents. But Kissubi, the black guide, who attached 
