The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-03
THE sun, SUNDAY. DECEMBER 8. 1893.

Kilima-Njaro is the second-grestest noun
tain In Africa. The equator runs through the
northern flank Of Mount Kenia, while enor-
nous masses Of snow glisten perpetually
on its summit. The top has never yet been
reached. as far as we know. though Dr. j.
W. GREeoRY. who has Just returned to Eng
land from his attempt upon the mountain.
led forty natives for days up the gentle
slope, until, at a height Of 1900 feet, he
came to layer Of solid ice, which. he says.
almost completely covers the mountain
| above that elevation. He was unable to
make the remaining 1000 feet Of the ascent.
As he Is trained geologist and Reographer
his report may throw light upon the moun-
tain and its interesting surroundings.
JOSEPH THOMSON. the first explorer 10 at
tempt the ascent, was defeated by native
hostility almost before he began the ascent
He had made deep impression upon the
natives who barred his advance, by taking
from hie mouth two or three teeth attached
to plate. The willy savages finally be-
thought them that O man who could do so
wonderful a thing could certainly take all
his teeth out, and as they insisted upon this
variation Of the entertainments THOMSON
was compelled to beat precipitate retreat.
In 1887 Count TELEKI spent eight days in
his efforts to reach the summit, He started
at the western foot of the mountain. $3.50
feet above the sea. The fact that Kenia
rests upon 80 lofty plateau makes 1t q far
less impressive object than Kilima-Njsro.
The top Of Kenia lie not a thousand feet
nearer the sea level than It's taller neigh
Dor. and Its macs is perhaps double that OF
Kilima-Njaro. But the latter mountain.
rising quite abruptly from comparatively
low plain to a height Of nearly $4,000 feet
above Its baee. is one OF the most impress
sive mountains in the world, while Kenia
rises very gradually from Its lofty founda-
ton and spreads its lavas over eighty
square miles Of country, above which its
top towers only $4,000 feet.
We may briefly tell what an African snow
mountain. directly under the equator, is
like. On the western slopes TELEKI found
great herds OF antelopes and water bucks
feeding on the coarse. steppe grass; and
tiger and elephant paths were numerous.
AS he assembled. the grass gradually made
way for forests of conifers. which. In turn.
were succeeded by dense bamboo thickets.
through which he had to cut every stop OF
his way to height of 10000 feet. Here
succeeded wide zone Of moses. At night
the temperature fell to the freezing point,
and the barefooted blacks slivered around
their camp fire. They could not DO tempted
much further on through the cutting air
they had never met before. The impossi-
bility Of getting native help for the most
difficult part Of the journey 10 the reason
why explorers have 80 slowly conquered the
snow submits OF Africa.
At last. at height of about 5000 feet,
TELEKI reached the lower edge OF the per-
petual SHOWS. As his supplies were nearly
exhausted and he had to leave all but one
Of his followers behind. he struggled up
through the SHOWS only $50 feet higher.
The twin pinnacles still lowered over $500
feet above him. But no had reached a most
interesting spot. for he stood on the edge Of
the broken crater. a mile and half wide
and half filled with snow and ice; while on
the other side were the two pinnacles which
form the summit and which are apparently
the ruins Of u still older crater.
Two years ago. Mr.. HoBLEY. the geolo-
gist Of the DUSDAs expedition, attacked
tho mountain on its southern side, and
passed through the various zones of vege-
tation that TELEKI had met. Tho highest
point he reached was only $500 feet. but he
made one very interesting discovery. None
OF the half dozen white men who had seen
Kenia learned that it Is something more
than q single mountain. HoBLEY says
that 1t is the elimination OF a mountain
range. the six or seven smaller peaks Of
which stretch away to the east. 1t was
forty-two years after the mountain was
discovered that this fact was learned.
1t may be. after all. that an American
has first reached the top of Kenia. The last
news from w. Aston CHAMBER came from
the neighborhood OF the great mountain.
He was about to make the ascent on the
northern side. and from his headquarters
on this slope he intended thoroughly to
study Kenia and its surroundings.
The mountain discoveries In eastern
Africa prove that there, as In other parts OF
the world. tho energy Of volcanic forces
attained its maximum In the equatorial
regions. Most OF these numerous African
volcanoes were reared In the tertiary age.
and are. therefore. comparatively young;
but none OF them now shows important |
activity. unless the native report. sent |
home by EsiIN and STUHLMANS Is true. that |
the most southern peak OF the range west |
of Victoria Nyanza now and then bursts |
into fame and smoke. 1t Ia possible that |
eruptions occur here. but they are not now |
known elsewhere in Africa. The only signs |
OF activity are found In few solfatAras.
the certain proofs OF dying volcanism.
No Sectional or Socialistio Taxntioni |
kn