Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



his argument was good in his savage way; he 

 probably reasoned he obtained as much peace of 

 mind through his form of recreation as the others 

 did. It is a wonderful place is Africa; its motto 

 should be Laissez faire. It is most noticeable with 

 a new-comer. He is always worrying at the many 

 irritating trifles which beset life out there. The 

 older hand dismisses them all with the remark 

 •' Oh ! the usual African 'shire'" (affair). If he asks 

 his friends to dinner, and the cook has run away 

 and there is little or nothing to feed on, everyone 

 understands ; moreover, has probably suffered in a 

 similar manner. He never worries himself beyond 

 the usual explanation and stereotyped apology. At 

 my first little attempt at entertaining some friends, 

 when I was just out, my boy served the meat before 

 the fish, and insisted on picking up the glasses to 

 pour the wine into. The cook served such a small 

 entree, that the first man who helped himself, 

 thinking he was the last, took the lot. In fact, by 

 the time the dinner was finished, I had added years 

 to my existence. Yet everyone thought it was a 

 great success. 



I must own this laissez aller mode of life is 

 excellent for one's own peace of mind, and is, as a 

 matter of fact, most sensible and greatly to be 

 encouraged. This morning, whilst helping myself 

 at breakfast to some honey, about fifty wasps 

 collected around my table. At home I should have 

 been driven crazy at their presence, but here I 

 enjoyed a most perfect meal, while staving them off 



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