XVIII THE CRATERS OF THE RIFT VALLEY 239 
frozen peaks and forming a permanent veil of fog and 
cloud. 
Woosnam, in liis account of tlie Ruwenzori Expedition, 
1905-6, states that one of the most characteristic and, 
at the same time, most objectionable features of 
Ruwenzori is the ever-present cloud which forms every 
morning and veils the upper regions in gloom and 
moisture. It disappears almost as regularly every 
evening at sunset, the mountains being nearly always 
clear of cloud in the night. This is why these mountains 
remained undiscovered so long. The cloud forms at can 
altitude of 9,000 feet and drifts upwards, and about 
10 a.m. the mountain is obscured. 
Similar cloud conditions prevail on Kenia and Kili¬ 
manjaro. The summits of these mountains are visible 
cat daybreak and at 4 p.m. They are very bccautiful cas 
they peer above the clouds. No wonder the Masai 
regard the glacier-covered summit of Kilimanjaro cas the 
home of a god. ” 
There are some curious floral conditions on Kenia, 
Kilimanjaro, and Ruwenzori, associated with this per¬ 
sistent humidity. The lower slopes of Kenia are clothed 
with dense forests of junipers and podoccarps, in which 
herds of elephants roam. Half-way up the mountain 
(8,000 to 10,000 feet) there are forests of huge bamboos 
in which the stems are so tightly packed together that 
only an elephant can force a way. Those who climb 
Kenia must traverse the bamboo zone and the way is 
cleared by cutting the bamboos with bills. When 
bamboos attain a height of fifteen feet they begin to 
branch and the long, thin leaves interlace, forming a 
dense canopy. Along the edge of the forest the narrow 
grass-like leaves of the bamboo look very pretty as they 
wave in the breeze. Above the bamboo forests the 
flora is very remarkable and consists of giant groundsel 
occurring in groves. At a distance these groves look 
‘‘like a table covered with flowers” (von Hohnel). 
There are lobelia grounds carpeted with thick moss, and 
