CHAPTER II. 



The Voyage from Napi^es to East Africa. 



HP HE steamship Admiral conveyed ex-President Roosevelt from 

 ■■■ Naples to Mombasa, British East Africa. On the voyage the 

 former President came in touch with the Dark Continent, for most 

 of his fallow passengers were officials or residents of East Africa. 

 To live in Africa is to be absorbed by it, to love it, to fear it, and to 

 long for it. Those who have once felt its spell seldom are free from 

 it. To know Africa well is to feel that all other countries are tame, 

 commonplace, and lacking in the dramatic flavor which adds such 

 spice to life out there. 



All of Col. RooseveR's fellow passengers talked Africa to him. 

 They told him of their hopes and plans if they happened to be new- 

 comers, or of their experiences and achievements if they were old 

 residents. These fellow passengers were for the most part English 

 and German, about half and half, with a sprinkling of Portuguese. 



As the steamship line is German and subsidized by the German 

 government, precedence is generally given to distinguished German 

 passengers, but Col. Roosevelt had the seat of honor at the captain's 

 table. The ex-Presi'dent was regaled with some "tall" stories, but 

 they always have the quality unusual to "tall" stories elsewhere of 

 being true. 



On these trips the English passengers will pre-empt the forward 

 part of the deck. They have pre-empted the best parts of Africa. 

 They take the best wherever they can get it. It's a national trait 

 which does not endear them to the rest of the world, but when you 

 have the best affection of those you've bested may not be necessary 

 to your enjoyment. 



The Germans will take the after part of the deck and say they 

 prefer it. The Americans, if there are any, may be found between 

 the two, while the Portuguese will lurk in corners or stay below, 

 indulging in seasickness so violent and uncalled-for that you will 



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