Ways and Means 



ing day a pretty march, crossing rivers with primi- 

 tive creeper bridges, more especially the Maragua 

 River, up hill and down dale one arrives at Fort 

 Hall, a fort with a collection of Kikuyu mud-huts 

 around it, and the whole countryside covered 

 with maize and matama (a species of millet), 

 situated on the top of a hill, over the Mathioya 

 River, a stream which supplies the community at 

 large with water, ice-cold, from Mount Kinangop, 

 of the Aberdare range, and a splendid view of 

 the snow-clad peak of Kenia to the north. Many 

 and many a happy day I spent there in the com- 

 fortable house belonging to the Sub-Commissioner 



o o 



of the province. We wandered about riding, 

 shooting Chanler's reed-buck, and fishing, and 

 then sitting by the river, under the shade of the 

 fort perched above, smoking, and talking about 

 everything and nothing in particular. However! 



This is a place where one can replenish with 

 supplies for the caravan, so it is a good thing 

 to start one's porters quite light at Nairobi, with 

 enough food to carry them through to Fort Hall, 

 as food for the porters — matama, beans, and sweet 

 potatoes — can be bought in any quantity here 

 cheaper than at Nairobi, sixty-five miles away. 



When "Richard is himself again' away we 

 go, descending the hills to the banks of the 

 Tana, the porters, full of food, all happy at their 

 stay in what they are pleased to call a town, the 

 Wakikuyu community in particular singing and 



189 



