The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-11
CLIMBING MOUNT KENIA.

The Third Unsuccessful Attempt To Reach
It's snow-Crowned summit
New York sun.
The third attempt to ascend Mount Ke-
MIA, the snow-crowned mountain of east
Africa, lying directly under the equator.
was made in July last. Joseph Thomson
was the first explorer to attempt this as
cent. He climbed up the west slope
TO high elevasion. but was not
able to get TO the top. Count Teleki met
the north side of the mountain. One fact
that made success difficult in the case OF
these explorers was the unfriendly atti-
tude of the natives living on the lower
slopes and at the foot of the mountain.
The tn ird attempt in July last was made
by Captain Dundas and his companions.
who assembled the lana river in the little
steam boat kenia for $50 miles aud then
marched overland 10 Mount Kenia. The
day they began to climb the great mount
ain on Its south side they forced their way
through dense forests overgrown with
moses. dark and gloomy, with no sign OF
life in Its deep shades. The cold was severe,
and the heavy mists and dew rendered
every thing damp and chilly. The follow
ing day the party entered the region of
bsmboos 1t would have been impossible
to proceed further If the caravan had not
taken advantage OF the elephant tracks.
Emerging from this bamboo thicket on the
afternoon of the sscond day. they found
that the ridge along which they were as
cendina ran nearly due west with
four distinct ridges visible between
their standpoint and the peaks OF
Kenia, which were about six miles distant
aud ten thousand feet above them. clad
far mp their steep slopes with dense jungle.
Between these ridges were deep ravines
too steep for men with loads to pass. and IL
they followed the ridges OH which they
stood to the summit. 1t would take at least
three days more to reach It. the ridges all
running around the mountain side in
spiral fashion from west TO east. The
party did not have sufficient supplysof
provisions to enable them to complete tho
ascent OF kenia. The highest point reached
was about 8. 200 feet. and here specimens Of
volcanic ash were obtained, and dog vio-
let's. thistles. docks. forget-me-nots and
clover were also found growing.
Captain Dundas says that the mountain
is not single mountain, but more properly
mountain chain, stretching from west 20
east. commencing In tho high LeIkipia
plateau on the west. and rising steadily un-
til it eliminates In the great double snow
crowned peak. Then comes the second
large peak, with five or six smaller ones.
The ascent could. in oil probability,
be accom- plished without great diffi-
Guilty from its northeast side. as the drain
age. which In great measure forms the
deep rayines appears. as at Kilima-Njaro.
to be on the southern aspect. The point at
which Count Teleki made his attempt TO
the north OF the mountain seems TO present
no insurmountabic obstacles.
The highest point reached by Captain
Dundas's party was six miles south of the
equator. The general appearance of the
mountain suggests q comparatively recent
volcanic formation. though the slope rs
ceDded was SO densely covered with Jungle
that little geological information could be
gained, there being only two exposures,
one of volcanic ash and the other of basalt.
Mount Kilima- n laro. which 10 south of
Kenia and a little higher. was assembled to
the summit OF its tallest peak by DR.. Hans
Meyer three years ago.