Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



last phase before it finally set was most majestic. 

 Surrounded by a halo of golden lustre, and larger 

 circles with rich hues of delicate purple, it dropped 

 below the horizon with that abruptness known to 

 the tropics, leaving a few parting rays of farewell 

 to shed a sombre sadness over all, until the rapidly 

 advancing darkness obliterated the last vestiges of 

 this truly sublime spectacle. I was interrupted by 

 the arrival of my orderly, who, as usual, thought I 

 had o^ot into difficulties. 



The next day, as my bicycle was again hors 

 de combat, I had to walk. As soon as we made 

 camp we discovered there was no water, owing to the 

 drought ; so we had to march steadily on in the 

 tropical sun to the next halting-place. This was an- 

 other twelve miles, making twenty-four in all, which 

 I accomplished in five hours. Not bad going. A 

 thunderstorm broke over the camp towards evening. 

 I took this excuse of turning in early. Unfortunately 

 a swarm of wasps made my tent a happy hunting- 

 ground, and I was at my wits' end how to deal 

 with them, when they suddenly all cleared out. 

 Probably their bedtime coincided with mine, which 

 was fortunate. I paid the porters the two cents I 

 had previously promised them, and they fell on 

 their knees with gratitude. 



The following day I patched up my bicycle, and 

 with a deal of pumping did fifteen miles to the 

 Kafue River. The road, or rather path, ran through 

 exquisite wooded scenery, and I thoroughly enjoyed 

 my ride, though a bit stiff from my long walk on 



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