266 
THE KILIMA NJARO EXPEDITION. 
and indeed the weather generally was abominable, and 
its effect on my men most depressing. Although the 
roofs of their hastily-built lints were fairly watertight, 
yet tbe constantly dripping rain made the ground 
swampy, and the driving mist swept into every opening 
and rendered everything uncomfortably damp. For 
hours together we would be enveloped in dense fog, 
which had such a gloomy appearance that my men 
often begged me to abandon my intentions of ascending 
any further, and return to sunny Taveita. But, until 
I had made a further attempt to reach the snows and 
possibly the apex of Kibo I could not accede to their 
wishes. Therefore, I began to make arrangements 
for a lengthened climb of the huge domed summit 
which marks the climax of Kilima-njaro. To do this 
successfully it would be necessary, owing to the time 
occupied in the ascent, to sleep on the way. Accord¬ 
ingly, I could not go alone, but must induce a few 
followers to accompany me to carry my necessary 
impedimenta. My Indian servant, Yirapan, of course 
volunteered; but I had to leave him behind, as he was 
not only disabled with severe ulcers on the legs, but I 
was afraid to quit the settlement without putting some 
responsible person in charge. So I selected three of 
my followers who looked agile and strong, and were 
not more cowardly than the majority—by cowardly I 
mean afraid of the unknown and the unseen: they 
were brave enough in the presence of ordinary African 
dangers—and providing each man with a warm 
blanket, and loading them with my own coverings, 
and with food, and implements for collecting and 
observing, I waited until the morning mists had 
somewhat cleared, and then, taking an affectionate 
leave of the rest of my caravan, who looked upon my 
