153 
In the Volcanic Region 
my forehead. There could be no illusion, the mountain was 
awakening to fresh activity! Aware of the terrible position in 
which we were placed in the centre of the crater I immediately 
gave orders to march back. And indeed it was high time, for the 
lapilli was already beginning to rain like hail upon our heads; 
the volcanic fumes stifled our lungs and oppressed our chests; 
our breath grew shorter and shorter, and we could almost hear 
our hearts beating. We groped our way forward in silence, 
but the heavy fog prevented us from ascertaining our position. 
My people, too, had entirely lost their heads. They charged 
me with having brought down the wrath of the scheitaniy or devil, 
of the mountain upon us through having photographed him in 
his dwelling-place, and denounced me for having led them to 
their destruction. In short, after wandering aimlessly around 
step by step, we continuously found our way barred by the 
steeply rising crater walls, whilst the dull rolling thunder 
momentarily increased in volume. It was a highly disagreeable, 
indeed, a highly critical situation. I could feel the blood throb¬ 
bing in my veins. Unless we found our way out of the mouse¬ 
trap very quickly we were utterly lost. . . . Luckily for us the 
thick veil of fog lifted. Only for a moment though. Yet it 
sufficed. I had noted the position on the crater walls where 
we might find our way out. A few moments later we were 
standing up above on the edge of the crater, and a loud hurrah 
sprang from our throats. We were saved from our peril. 
My black followers skipped about for joy. Now, of course, 
not one of them had entertained the slightest fear of the 
scheitani. They were, naturally, far too enlightened for any¬ 
thing of the sort, was the opinion of one of my Askari. . . . 
“ I repeated the descent on the 15th of December. The 
weather was clear and sunny and so I was able to make the 
circuit of a large part of the inner crater-terrace, besides taking 
some observations of much value to me. I also succeeded in 
getting some capital photographs. The vapour formation was 
of an extremely slight character, and a thorough examination of 
the different parts of the crater was possible. Besides the chief 
u 
