The Kilima-Njaro Expedition by Harry Johnston
"The Kilima-Njaro Expedition" by Harry Johnston is a detailed account of an exploratory journey to the Kilima-Njaro mountain region in Eastern Africa. The narrative begins with a geographical and geological description of Kilima-Njaro, highlighting its volcanic origins and its status as the highest mountain in Africa. Johnston discusses the historical context of the mountain's discovery by European explorers and the skepticism they faced from the geographical community. The expedition, organized by the British Association for the Advancement of Science and the Royal Society, aimed to study the unique flora and fauna of the region, which were thought to hold clues to the geographical distribution of species. Johnston describes the logistical challenges of organizing the expedition, including the recruitment of porters and the acquisition of supplies. Upon reaching the region, Johnston provides vivid descriptions of the landscape, the local flora and fauna, and the indigenous peoples. He details the interactions with local chiefs, particularly Mandara, the chief of Moši, and the political dynamics of the region. The narrative includes observations on the cultural practices and social structures of the local tribes. Johnston's account is rich with descriptions of the natural beauty of Kilima-Njaro, the challenges of the journey, and the scientific observations made during the expedition. The work serves as both a travelogue and a scientific report, offering insights into the early exploration of one of Africa's most iconic landscapes.
By Harry Johnston · First published 1886 · Genre: Travel Literature, Adventure, Exploration · 21 chapters · 163,585 words
First lines
Kilima-njaro[1] is the name currently given to a huge mountain-mass in Eastern Africa, consisting of two giant peaks and many lesser ones, situated below the third parallel south of the Equator, and at a distance, in a straight line, of about 175 miles from the coast. The highest of the two principal summits-Kibô-reaches an elevation 18,880 feet above the sea, and the lesser peak-Kimawenzi-attains to 16,250 feet. Both ascend above the snow-line, no other point in the same clump of mountains doing so, and both are the craters of extinct volcanoes. The entire mass of Kilima-njaro seems to be due to volcanic upheaval, and it was doubtless at one time, and that geologically recent, the great vent of the volcanic forces of Eastern Equatorial Africa, which are still active in regions further to the north or west in the district lying between the Victoria Nyanza and the Indian Ocean.
What this Textopian page supports
The Kilima-Njaro Expedition is listed on Textopian as a novel by Harry Johnston, dated 1886 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Harry Johnston
- Date: 1886 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Travel Literature, Adventure, Exploration, Historical Non-Fiction, Natural History
- Length: 163,585 words
- Structure: 21 chapters, 1,276 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Kilima-Njaro Expedition by Harry Johnston
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
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Genres
- Travel Literature — The book is a detailed account of an expedition, emphasizing journey narratives and travel experiences.
- Adventure — The narrative centers on the challenges and risks of the expedition, marking it as an adventurous tale.
- Exploration — It documents the discovery and examination of unknown regions around Kilima-Njaro, fitting the exploration genre.
- Historical Non-Fiction — The work provides insights into historical expeditions and colonial-era contexts, making it a non-fiction historical account.
Tags
exploration · adventure · Africa · colonial exploration · travel narrative · expedition · ethnography · mountaineering · historical journey · geography · cultural encounter · wildlife
Contents
- Introductory
- Sir John Kirk at Home
- The Start-Mombasa to Taita
- Taita to Kilima-Njaro
- Arrival at Mandara's Court
- My First Settlement on Kilima-Njaro
- "Halcyon Days."
- "Troublous Times."
- An Anxious Period
- A Trip to Taveita
- A First Ascent
- A Move to Maraṅu.[24]
- A Second Ascent
- Through the Forests of Kimawenzi and the Country of Rombo
- Lake J̌ipé and the Road to Gonǰa
- Gonǰa to London
- Climate, Geology, Botany, Etc
- Zoology
- Anthropology
- The Languages of the Kilima-Njaro District
- The Commercial Prospects of E. Equatorial Africa