Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



round the rather quaint golf links which my enter- 

 prising commanding officer had lost no time in 

 laying out during his short stay in the neighbour- 

 hood. I had dinners composed of quite a lot of 

 courses, and afterwards regaled myself with the 

 latest homely ditties on a borrowed gramophone. 



What pleased me most was to have at my 

 disposal plenty to read, as I discovered the remains 

 of a library in the old Boma House, and I collected 

 piles of illustrated newspapers recording all the 

 European events which had taken place during the 

 six months of the expedition. In fact, I enjoyed 

 becoming quite civilized again. 



My period of leisure did not last sufficiently 

 long to allow of my suffering from ennui. I 

 managed to ascertain the whereabouts of a certain 

 herd of waterbuck, among which, I was assured by 

 an official who had spent some time in the neigh- 

 bourhood, there was a record bull. 



I accordingly obtained a day's leave, and within 

 three hours of Mbarara I came upon the herd in a 

 very thick tract of country. I had a good look at 

 them through my glasses, and one of them certainly 

 seemed to be carrying a very fair-sized head. But 

 my luck was out, for a bad stalk led me to betray 

 my presence, and to my mortification the whole 

 herd made off at high speed and were soon out of 

 sight, so I lost no time in getting back to Mbarara. 



I fear the days are now numbered when it will be 

 possible to chase waterbuck within so short a distance 

 of what is one of the bioroest towns of Uo^anda. 



226 



