THE EAST AFIUCAN RAILROAD 93 



incidentally tells us, he saw six yellow lions walk leisurely across the 

 track in broad daylight, and spectacles of this kind are not uncommon 

 in this locality. It may be, however, that the tawny brute measures 

 his distance and keeps out of easy rifle shot from the train. There is 

 another animal which avoids the train, or rarely comes within view, 

 this being the huge and surly rhinoceros, who does not like this near- 

 ness of civilization and seeks in preference the wooded river beds and 

 its native solitudes. 



The means of observing the splendid and well-peopled zoological 

 garden through which the road runs is one of which Roosevelt was 

 quick to avail himself, that in which the cow-catcher of the engine 

 is used as an observation car. One does not need to seat himself, how- 

 ever, on the iron bars, for an ordinary garden seat is fastened on to 

 the engine front, resting upon the cow-catcher, and offering comfort- 

 able accommodation for four or five sightseers, from which they may 

 observe in ease and safety the interesting country through which they 

 are borne. 



It should here be said that the road, though running through the 

 heart of what was so lately a savage country, is admirably well built, 

 its track neatly smoothed and ballasted, its grades and curves being 

 like those of a well-appointed road in a civilized land, and the trains 

 running along as smoothly and evenly as upon a European or Ameri- 

 can line. 



This road is only a beginning. Taking passengers in comfort in 

 forty-eight hours through a country which it formerly required months 

 of hardship to traverse, it is but a pioneer, an iron wedge driven deep 

 into the dark continent from which others are destined to branch out 

 in various directions. Built with no special thought of profit, it is 

 already paying its way. It is not yet a money-making concern, but it 

 will be when that fertile land becomes gridironed with iron rails and 

 its valued products are brought in increasing quantities to the sea- 

 port of Mombasa, thence to make their way to the civilized lands of 

 the earth. 



Roosevelt, a born lover of nature, had abundant opportunity to 

 observe some of nature's choicest wonders and charms from his cow- 

 catcher perch. Before him beautiful birds and brilliant butterflies 



