Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



being sifted. Nearly opposite our position and a 

 little to the left stand four massive volcanoes, 

 their outlines sketched against the background of 

 sky dimmed by distance. The biggest peak of 

 the four, called Karissimbi, wears a snow cap, 

 and is 14,633 feet in height. Behind, but only 

 visible on the clearest day, stand two others, one 

 of which is reported by the natives to have been 

 active within recent times. They lend a majestic 

 dignity to a scene lacking in naught else, and stand 

 there as silent sentinels and forbidding guardians of 

 the fertile plains beyond in the land of M'fumbiro. 

 In order that nothing may be lacking in this 

 wonderful display of Nature, turning half right, 

 extensive lakes lie stretched out before your eyes, 

 not stiff and formal sheets of water, but with 

 coast-lines varied by promontories and rugged rocks, 

 their faces dotted with interesting little islands, all 

 the more attractive by the promise they contain of 

 a certain likelihood of dark-crested crane, hippo- 

 potamus, and innumerable else. Immediately behind 

 this ridge lay the hollow of an old crater, bearing a 

 striking resemblance to an old Roman arena. In 

 the bottom of this the numerous porters lie herded 

 together. Parallel with and at the back of the 

 ridge are mountains heaped upon mountains in 

 curious fashion. Behind these the sun was slowly 

 disappearing amidst a panorama of rosy red. 



Whilst I was posting the chain of sentries in 

 commanding positions across our front, the re- 

 mainder of my men set to to dig their trenches by 



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