Journey to Kilima-ndjaroAuthor(s): Richard ThorntonSource: Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Vol. 9, No. 1 (1864 - 1865),pp. 15-16Published by: Wiley on behalf of The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of BritishGeographers)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1799297 .

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Nov. 14, 1864.] Nov. 14, 1864.] JOURNEY TO KILIMA-NDJARO. JOURNEY TO KILIMA-NDJARO. 15 15

now come to the conclusion that, if no obstacles prevent me fion going filrtller, I will push forward, and then be guided according to circumstances. It is a great undertaking, and I am perfectly aware of the dangers attending such an expedition. I know that perhaps I anay never come back, or may not have bodily strength to accoluplish what my heart desires; it luay be my fate to die a poor, lonely traveller, but I will try my best, and see no disgr;ce if I fail. I know, and -ou know also, that I have no other aim than that of enlarging our knowledge of this unknown part of Africa. I shall be obliged to take about 100 mell with ule, and shall start in a few days. I have sent to the British AXuseum some specimens of natural history, among which are seven skeletons of the gorilla and sis skins preserved in salt. There are also a + ery curious ant-eater, l?robably a new species, and two skeletons of the chimpanzee. Azuong the live stock I have embarked a live gorilla. A few da) s before the departure of the vessel I had three of these animals alive; one of them, an adult female, caught after being wounded: it was a fearful sight to see the large animal, bound hand allcl foot, screalning with rage. Captaill Flolder, of the Cambe ia of Bl istol, saw the three alive, and l have, besides, taken photo- graphs of two of thelu."

2. Jo)sney to itlima-ndyae^o. By the late RICHARD THORNTON, Esq. THIS was a condensed accollnt, from the voluminous MS. Journals of the late Mr. Richald Tholllton, of the journey to Kilima-ndjaro, in whichhe accompanied the Baron von der Decken, as his scientific conzpanion. The party left Mombas on the 29th of June, 1861, and proceeded first to the elevated country from which Mounts Killibassi and Kadiaro rear their peaks. This district is inhabited by the AVa-teita, a fierce tribe, who showed great hostility to the party, the fighting men assembling to the number of 200, and threatening the lives of the Baron and his two white companions. One of the principal objects of their stay at this point was, how- ever, accomplished, namely, the determination of the altitude of Mount Kadiaro, which proved to be 4130 feet-a much lower elerra- tion than that assigned to it by the missionary traveller Rebmann, which was 6000 feet. On leaving this district they diverged from the direct route and marched s.w. to the Par Mountains, and thence, proceeding northerly towards Kilima-ndjaro, skirted the eastern shores of Lake Jipe, a sheet of water 20 miles in length, and in its wider parts, 3* miles broad. The first attelnpt to ascend the snowy peaks was froln Kilema, on the south-eastern slopes, whence

now come to the conclusion that, if no obstacles prevent me fion going filrtller, I will push forward, and then be guided according to circumstances. It is a great undertaking, and I am perfectly aware of the dangers attending such an expedition. I know that perhaps I anay never come back, or may not have bodily strength to accoluplish what my heart desires; it luay be my fate to die a poor, lonely traveller, but I will try my best, and see no disgr;ce if I fail. I know, and -ou know also, that I have no other aim than that of enlarging our knowledge of this unknown part of Africa. I shall be obliged to take about 100 mell with ule, and shall start in a few days. I have sent to the British AXuseum some specimens of natural history, among which are seven skeletons of the gorilla and sis skins preserved in salt. There are also a + ery curious ant-eater, l?robably a new species, and two skeletons of the chimpanzee. Azuong the live stock I have embarked a live gorilla. A few da) s before the departure of the vessel I had three of these animals alive; one of them, an adult female, caught after being wounded: it was a fearful sight to see the large animal, bound hand allcl foot, screalning with rage. Captaill Flolder, of the Cambe ia of Bl istol, saw the three alive, and l have, besides, taken photo- graphs of two of thelu."

2. Jo)sney to itlima-ndyae^o. By the late RICHARD THORNTON, Esq. THIS was a condensed accollnt, from the voluminous MS. Journals of the late Mr. Richald Tholllton, of the journey to Kilima-ndjaro, in whichhe accompanied the Baron von der Decken, as his scientific conzpanion. The party left Mombas on the 29th of June, 1861, and proceeded first to the elevated country from which Mounts Killibassi and Kadiaro rear their peaks. This district is inhabited by the AVa-teita, a fierce tribe, who showed great hostility to the party, the fighting men assembling to the number of 200, and threatening the lives of the Baron and his two white companions. One of the principal objects of their stay at this point was, how- ever, accomplished, namely, the determination of the altitude of Mount Kadiaro, which proved to be 4130 feet-a much lower elerra- tion than that assigned to it by the missionary traveller Rebmann, which was 6000 feet. On leaving this district they diverged from the direct route and marched s.w. to the Par Mountains, and thence, proceeding northerly towards Kilima-ndjaro, skirted the eastern shores of Lake Jipe, a sheet of water 20 miles in length, and in its wider parts, 3* miles broad. The first attelnpt to ascend the snowy peaks was froln Kilema, on the south-eastern slopes, whence

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16 16

JOURNEY TO WILIMA-NDJARO. JOURNEY TO WILIMA-NDJARO. [Nov. 28, 1864 [Nov. 28, 1864 the whole of the upper cone of Kilima-ndjaro was distinctly visible. Failing hers, owing to the opposition of the chief of Kilema, they marched round by the foot of the rarlge to AIadjanze, on the south- westeln side, where they were equally ullsuccessful; the suspicious savages of the district not alloxving theln to ascend higher than an altitude of 4867 feet. Here, at a distance of 1o miles, WIr. Thornto -lnade ntlluerous obserlrations of the snoxv-clad peak. The top o Kilima-ndjaro appeared as a broad dome with a rugged blunt peak on its N.W. side of nearly the same height as the sumtnit, and slop- ing away gently for a long distance; behind the eastern slope rose the N ory rugged, pointed top of the eastern peak. rl'he snow showed beantifully on all these suanmits. The principal top had a good, thick, smooth coating of snow, with patcl:es and streaks lower down lying in ravines; three times avalanches of snow with flying drift were seen rolling down the mountain-side. l\Ir. Thornton calculated the height to be 22,814 feet.

Second BIeeti.g, November 28th, 1864. SIR RODERI(:K I. SIIJRCHISC)N, S.C.B., PRESIDE.NT, in the Chair. PRESENTATIONS.-Captain John Bythesea, R.N., V.C.; Alewa7zder G#son, Esq.

ELECTIONS.-lieuteawnt R. L. Arzstruther; John Arthur) Esq.; Cap- tain John Bythesea, R.N.^ Y.C.; W. Z. B?hllock, Esq.; B. C. Barnett, Esq., L.R.C.P.; Edwin B)otrs7, Esq., F.G.S.; P. Bingham, Esq.; the Earl of Cork and Orrery; Walter CheadZe, Esq., B.A., M.B.; Fatederick Cooper, Esq.; Captctin J. E. Comerell, R.N., V.C.; Dr. John I)oran, F.S.A.; Major J. X. Freme; Fraw?cis E. Fon?, Esq.; Alexccndea Gzbson, Esq.; Captain E..Ilczrdirzge, R.N.; Captain Felinc Aones; Lord cvchomberg lGer; John Locke, Esq.; J. W. Mitchell, Esq.; Thomas Alitchelt, Esq.; Charles D. llEackinno1t, Esq.; Colin W. Macrae7 Esq.; Lietztenant-General PatricA Montgomerie, <9m?el Osborn, Esq., M.D., H.L.S.; F)ederwA A. Presfon Pigou, Esq.; John Robinson, Esq.; Rachard John Thomas, Esq.; A. C. Twentytrzan, Fsq.; IIorace Waller, Esq.; R. B. N. Walker, Esq.; J. }Fulmesley, Esq.; Sir Mord.aalt Wells ; J. H. Wodehouse, .Esq.; Sir Atewander Wood, BART., M.P.; J. B. ZwecAe)r, Esq. ACCESSIONS to the LIBRKRY.-' Proceedings ' of the P;oyal Artillery Institution. ' Neuste Reisen durch die Vereinigten Niederlande,' presented by S. M. Drach, Esq. 'An Auto-Biographical ZIemoir of Sir J. Barrow, Bart.,' presented by John Mrrow, Esq. ' Voyage de M. de la C:ondamine.' (2 vols.) Smith's ' Manual of Topographical Drawing.' Heather ' On Mathenlatical Instrutnents.' 'Hind's

the whole of the upper cone of Kilima-ndjaro was distinctly visible. Failing hers, owing to the opposition of the chief of Kilema, they marched round by the foot of the rarlge to AIadjanze, on the south- westeln side, where they were equally ullsuccessful; the suspicious savages of the district not alloxving theln to ascend higher than an altitude of 4867 feet. Here, at a distance of 1o miles, WIr. Thornto -lnade ntlluerous obserlrations of the snoxv-clad peak. The top o Kilima-ndjaro appeared as a broad dome with a rugged blunt peak on its N.W. side of nearly the same height as the sumtnit, and slop- ing away gently for a long distance; behind the eastern slope rose the N ory rugged, pointed top of the eastern peak. rl'he snow showed beantifully on all these suanmits. The principal top had a good, thick, smooth coating of snow, with patcl:es and streaks lower down lying in ravines; three times avalanches of snow with flying drift were seen rolling down the mountain-side. l\Ir. Thornton calculated the height to be 22,814 feet.

Second BIeeti.g, November 28th, 1864. SIR RODERI(:K I. SIIJRCHISC)N, S.C.B., PRESIDE.NT, in the Chair. PRESENTATIONS.-Captain John Bythesea, R.N., V.C.; Alewa7zder G#son, Esq.

ELECTIONS.-lieuteawnt R. L. Arzstruther; John Arthur) Esq.; Cap- tain John Bythesea, R.N.^ Y.C.; W. Z. B?hllock, Esq.; B. C. Barnett, Esq., L.R.C.P.; Edwin B)otrs7, Esq., F.G.S.; P. Bingham, Esq.; the Earl of Cork and Orrery; Walter CheadZe, Esq., B.A., M.B.; Fatederick Cooper, Esq.; Captctin J. E. Comerell, R.N., V.C.; Dr. John I)oran, F.S.A.; Major J. X. Freme; Fraw?cis E. Fon?, Esq.; Alexccndea Gzbson, Esq.; Captain E..Ilczrdirzge, R.N.; Captain Felinc Aones; Lord cvchomberg lGer; John Locke, Esq.; J. W. Mitchell, Esq.; Thomas Alitchelt, Esq.; Charles D. llEackinno1t, Esq.; Colin W. Macrae7 Esq.; Lietztenant-General PatricA Montgomerie, <9m?el Osborn, Esq., M.D., H.L.S.; F)ederwA A. Presfon Pigou, Esq.; John Robinson, Esq.; Rachard John Thomas, Esq.; A. C. Twentytrzan, Fsq.; IIorace Waller, Esq.; R. B. N. Walker, Esq.; J. }Fulmesley, Esq.; Sir Mord.aalt Wells ; J. H. Wodehouse, .Esq.; Sir Atewander Wood, BART., M.P.; J. B. ZwecAe)r, Esq. ACCESSIONS to the LIBRKRY.-' Proceedings ' of the P;oyal Artillery Institution. ' Neuste Reisen durch die Vereinigten Niederlande,' presented by S. M. Drach, Esq. 'An Auto-Biographical ZIemoir of Sir J. Barrow, Bart.,' presented by John Mrrow, Esq. ' Voyage de M. de la C:ondamine.' (2 vols.) Smith's ' Manual of Topographical Drawing.' Heather ' On Mathenlatical Instrutnents.' 'Hind's

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