THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 263 



streets or roads, and are generally quite attractive. 

 The view out over the Kavirondo Gulf and the 

 mountains and valley is very fine; and were it not for 

 the climate the place would be very attractive. 



The climate is bad, however. You see there many a 

 big husky man; but his eyes are restless, his manner 

 nervous, and his frequent laugh loud and forced almost 

 to a note of hysteria. Plague is always present among 

 the swarming natives; meningitis is creeping in; and 

 sleeping sickness is so near that it is a dread and a threat. 

 Doctor Moett, the medical officer, is immensely busy — 

 and immensely pleased and interested. He set a dozen 

 wire traps, caught a dozen plague rats, and left the lot 

 by his laboratory door, pending investigation. When he 

 went to look for them an hour or so later, they had gone. 

 Only the empty traps ! Summoned his boys. 



"Oh, yes, we know where the rats are; we ate them; 

 isn't that what the bwana caught them for?" 



"And they were plague rats!" concluded the doctor 

 pathetically. 



Home's house is in the middle of a lovely garden 

 which would drive a garden lover crazy with its tropi- 

 cal stuff, and is a wide, cool, rambling structure with 

 shady verandas. We had a good lunch, and Cuning- 

 hame and I were so pleased that after Home had gone 

 back to his office we remained loafing in his easy chairs. 

 So later he asked us to dine, an invitation we accepted 

 shamelessly. 



