The Ecology of the Alpine Zone of Mount Kenya

Front Matter....Pages N2-VIII Introduction....Pages 1-5 Physiography....Pages 6-9 Geology....Pages 10-12 Glacial Geology....Pages 13-16 Vegetation Zones and Communities....Pages 17-50 The Alpine Climate....Pages 51-68 The Development and Distribution of Alpine Soils....Pages 69-79 Colonisation in the Alpine Zone....Pages 80-93 Biotic Factors in the Alpine Zone....Pages 94-112 Discussion....Pages 113-121 Summary and Conclusions....Pages 122-124 Back Matter....Pages 125-137 For centuries the peak of Mount Kenya has held a magical and religious significance for the Bantu and Nilohamitic peoples around its base. The Kikuyu live around the Eastern and Southern bound­ aries and the closely related Uembu and Umeru on the S.E. and N.E. respectively. Early in this century the Masai lived to the N.W. and North, but after continual warfare between them and their neighbours, the European administrators of that time moved them to a special reserve to the South, which accounts at the present day for the retention in the Masai language of many words that refer to Mount Kenya. Kikuyu folk-lore tells how, when the earth was formed, a man named Mogai made a great mountain, Kere-Nyaga. The fine white powder (snow) covering the peak, which they called ira, was said to be the bed of Ngai (God), and during male and female circumcision ceremonies a white powder was placed on the wound, and the ini­ tiates were told that this material had been brought from the summit of the mountain. In fact all important tribal ceremonies were, and in many cases still are conducted facing the mountain. Such occasions include marriage and sacrifice when, in time of hardship, Ngai's aid is called upon (CAGNOLO 1933, KENYATTA 1938, CRIRA 1959).