Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-06

RELIC.
If anything is wanted to sustain interest in
African exploration, the Pal Mall Gassae
thinks, "Dr. Hans Meyers luxurious volume,
Across East African Glaciers ought to do it,
The book is translated by E. H. 8. Calder, and
published by Messrs. George Philip 4 Son. Its
numerous illustrations and maps are beyond
praise. The doctors account of the first ascent
of kilimanjaro is the chief feature Of the
work. and we proceed to give q few extracts
describing that monarch Of mountains and the
gallant conquest Dr.. Meyer made of its top
most peak.
"Toward sunset the whole mountain un-
yelled itself from head to foot. The re-
semblance which Kilimanjaro bears to Etna,
owing to its long. gradual slope upward, and
apart, OF course, from its double peak, is not
SO apparent from Moji From Moi (4,eOO feet
above sea level to the base Of kibo Q4.4OO
1eet) the ground rises at the rate of one foot in
seven. From the base to the summit the
ascent is very much more rapid. A more
sublime spectacle could not be imagined than
tnat on which We gazed entrsnced rs that even
Ing the clouds parted and the mountain stood
revealed in all its proud serenity. The south
west side of the great ice dome blushed red in
tne splendor of the setting sun, while further
TO the east the SHOWS Of the summit lay in deep
mysterious mantle was pierced by jagged points
of dark brown rock. as spots aeck the ermine of
king. And surely never monarch wore his
royal robes more royalty than this monarch of
African mountains, kiiimanjaro His foot rests
on Q carpet of velvety turf and through the
dark-green forest the steps of his throne reach
downward to the earth, where man stands awe
struck before the glory of his majesty. Art
may have colors rich enough to FL one moment
OF this dazzling splendor, but neither brush nor
pen can portray the unceasinC play of color
the wondrous puppies of the summit, deepening
as in the Alpine afterglow: the dull greens of
the forest and the sepia shadows in the ravines
and hollows growing ever darker as evening
steals on apace; and, last, the gradual fading
away of-all as the sun sets. and over eyervtbins
spreads the gray cloud curtain of The night Il
is not picture, but a pageant king goes to
his rest
''Of the elaborate preparations made for the
little band of mountaineers we have not space
to speak, nor can we do more than mention the
many interesting scraps of scientific obserya-
ton which Dr. Never notes an PEASANT After
describing AN extraordinary arborescent plant
(Senecio Johnstoni), which looks in the dis
lance something like a human being. DIR.
Meyer describes the scene in the region of mist
and cold:
The landscape here is almost melancholy
in its somber monotony. As far as tbe eve can
reach nothing is to be seen save dark gray
blocks of lava scattered over the prayeliy or
sandy ground Neither grass nor busb relieves
the dreary waste. no sonnd of living crcatnre
greets the ear. The silence ia unbroken save
for the eerie sough of the wind as it whistles
among the bou,ders or rustles the crisp leaves
OF some starveling shrub and watts the misty
wreaths across the drear expanse of gray. The
rent and cracked masses of lava assume the
characteristics tortoiseshell-Eke apnesrance
which excited so much remark on the mart of
Mr.. H. H. Johnston. II is only here and there
in the more sheltered hooks that an isolated
oh -. . ..,:..--- :, - -