Recent travellers who have failed to see this range--Its classical history--The range of mountains viewed from Pisgah by us in 1887--The twin cones and snowy mountain viewed by us in 1888 and January 1889--Description of the range--The Semliki valley--A fair figurative description of Ruwenzori--The principal drainage of the snowy range--The luxurious productive region known as Awamba forest or the Semliki valley--Shelter from the winds--Curious novelties in plants in Awamba forest--The plains between Mtsora and Muhamba--Changes of climate and vegetation on nearing the hills constituting the southern flank of Ruwenzori--The north-west and west side of Ruwenzori--Emotions raised in us at the sight of Ruwenzori--The reason why so much snow is retained on Ruwenzori--The ascending fields of snow and great tracts of _débris_--Brief views of the superb Rain-Creator or Cloud-King--Impression made on all of us by the skyey crests and snowy breasts of Ruwenzori. [Sidenote: 1889. June. Ruwenzori.] After the stories of the days of old, let us proceed to depict the Ruwenzori range--which is the modern African term among the principal tribes of the Lake regions for what was called Montes Lunae or Mons Lune by the classical and European geographers, and by the Arab compilers of travels as Jebel Kumr--Gumr, or Kammar--the Mountains of the Moon--as it was seen by us. Several centuries have passed away since it was last seen by any one capable of communicating an intelligent account of his travels, and it may be many years will elapse before it is again seen by any English-speaking explorer. The Nile route is closed for many a day to come: the advance of the Manyuema, already spreading out far along the West like an immense line of skirmishers, destroying and slaying as they march eastward and northward, renders it very doubtful whether subsistence would be found for an Expedition from the west; the ferocity and number of the Wara Sura, and the treacherous character of the Wanyoro, make it very certain that only a powerful force can ever be able to pass through Toro; and the shifting events transpiring in Uganda, which influence Uddu and Ankori, suggest a doubt, whether, in defiance of Uganda, the south-east route would be practicable; and the eastern route also presents serious difficulties. For these, as well as for other reasons, such as the failure of so many modern travellers--Sir Samuel and Lady Baker, Gessi Pasha, Mason Bey in 1877, our own Expedition in 1887, and Emin Pasha in 1888--to see what ought to have been seen, it is quite necessary that a more detailed description should be given of this range.