A TEDIOUS ASCENT. 
223 
advice, and to sacrifice the hunter’s instinct to that of 
the explorer. We therefore determined to continue 
the mountain ascent, and to try and reach the saddle 
connecting our intimate friends and landmarks Kibo 
and Kimawenzi, a goal apparently not too far distant 
to be within easy reach, but which, like most moun¬ 
taineers’ goals, proved remarkable for its attractive 
deceptions. 
No sooner had we captured what appeared to be 
our last mountain ridge, than we found ourselves con¬ 
fronted by the “ last but one,” until we almost accepted 
the existence of any individual ridge connecting the 
two peaks, as a geological “ Mrs. Harris.” Fortun¬ 
ately the ascent was gradual, and the going fair enough 
as long as we picked our way clear of the rocks and 
boulders and thick patches of coarse heath and grass, 
in places, about four feet high. 
At 12.30 p.m. we united our forces, and, making a 
big fire, halted for a short time at an elevation of 14,800 
feet; here most of our gun-bearers gave in, being 
quite beat and complaining of giddiness and headache. 
After resting awhile we continued the ascent, each 
taking his own line; at about 15,000 feet the scrub 
and heath, which had become scantier and more sparse 
as we proceeded, disappeared altogether, and I came 
upon a sloping plain of soft and friable volcanic soil, 
with here and there mounds and patches of shale and 
ashes. At this height, it was very fatiguing on account 
of the rarefied condition of the air; however, I per¬ 
severed, and dragged my weary way up this slope for 
