x^in THE CRATERS OE THE RIFT VALLEY 233 
exposed surface of the rock in this cleft presents an 
arrangement of basaltic columns resembling that of 
FiimaFs cave. The recess is a favourite resort and 
O 
breeding place of vultures. 
Concerning Suswa I can give no information. I had 
no opportunity of climbing it and have not met anyone 
who had; but whilst at Nakuru I took the opportunity 
of visiting the extinct crater of Menengai. The ascent 
would be a pleasant ride were it not for the tall coarse 
grass which covers its sides and makes the journey 
troublesome for men and mules. The exterior of this 
cone, like Longonot, presents a series of platform-like 
terraces with fairly steep slopes between the platforms. 
The edge of the crater on the side near Nakuru is well- 
marked ; the inner side is a steep, grass-covered slope 
several hundred feet long, which ends abruptly at an 
almost perpendicular wall extending to the floor of the 
crater more than 200 feet below. The southern and 
'western portions of the crater-rim are complete, but the 
northern and eastern portions are wanting : the floor of 
the crater, occupied by a thick forest, slopes away to the 
floor of the valley. There is sufficient of the crater wall 
left to furnish a loud echo. It is reported that a steam- 
vent exists in the crater and that it is visited and 
venerated by the Masai, but w^e failed to find it. 
The grass on the outer slopes near the summit, as 
well as on the inner face of the crater, was traversed by 
game tracks. The crater itself is visited by elephants, 
zebras, antelopes, and lions. A herd of eland occasion¬ 
ally graze in it, and we obtained an example of Chanler’s 
reedbuck in the crater'itself : after the animal was shot 
the “ boys ” showed great trepidation about descending 
into the crater for fear of lions. This, however, did not 
prevent us enjoying the extraordinary spectacle pre¬ 
sented by the valley when seen from a height, especially 
the peculiar purple light which tinges the edges of the 
escarpments wdien the sun shines on them. A similar 
purple tint hangs about the mountains surrounding the 
