chapter XII 



THE LURE OF COFFEE 



To the man or woman who dreams of a Ufe in the open, 

 unfettered by the many drawbacks of modern civiKza- 

 tion, Kenya unfolds herself as a veritable fairyland. 



How can I describe this country to those who have 

 never seen it? — to those who look at things through eyes 

 accustomed only to Northern scenery? Try to conjure 

 up in your imagination the scene which opens out be- 

 fore you as the train wends its leisurely way from Mom- 

 basa ever upwards towards the delectable highlands of 

 this last and best land of promise. 



The gari ya moshi, steam engine, has at length arrived 

 at the crest of the table-lands and with half a dozen 

 long drawn out puffs the train, with one great effort, 

 straightens itself out to speed across the Athi Plains on 

 the last lap to Nairobi. If in your mind you would con- 

 trive to paint this ideal picture you must think of the 

 largest and most beautiful pleasure park you have ever 

 seen, magnify it an hundredfold and populate it with 

 every kind of wild animal life you can imagine. 



Those who have been so fortunate as to see Major 

 Dugmore's "Wonderland of Big Game" or Mr. Martin 



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