170 STALKS ABROAD 



against the faint background. Then we slid over a 

 rise, and there, in a hollow of the plain which stretched 

 far on either hand to meet the embrace of the en- 

 circling hills, lay Nairobi. 



A worse position for a town it is difficult to 

 imagine. I know one man who was offered most of 

 the land on which it now stands. He not unnaturally 

 concluded that the low hill which rose above the 

 swamp would be a more suitable site for any pro- 

 spective township, and refused. He is rather sorry 

 now ! Yet to me it looked very beautiful lying there 

 in the dip, its white verandahs and red roofs shim- 

 mering hospitably in the sun as they peered from 

 the dark, cool clumps of foliage which only half con- 

 cealed them. 



In Nairobi, one word above all others falls on 

 the ear of the new-comer with haunting persistence ; 

 every one you meet is engaged in one pursuit. He 

 is "on safari"; just "going on safari," or "just come 

 back from safari." At first it is rather puzzling, and 

 one wonders what this mysterious " safari " can be. 

 Then you discover that it is merely the porters and 

 various impedimenta necessary for a trip up country, 

 or the trip itself. 



In the club, perched on the crest of the hill, are 

 some fine trophies, the most noticeable, perhaps, a 

 good bongo. A very curious female Grant, with 

 horns of unusual length, hangs in the dining-room. 

 It looks more like a male with thin horns. The span 

 is quite extraordinary. 



