i6 



EASTERN ETHIOPIA 



11 



About 280 miles from Mombasa the railways enters 

 the Athi plain, and around Simba station lions are 

 plentiful. The rhinoceros and giraffe are occasionally 

 seen in this section of the line. The amount of game 

 on the plain varies with the condition of the grass : 

 when favourable hundreds of zebra, herds of hartebeest 

 (kongoni) and wildebeest (gnu) will'be seen. Ostriches 

 are often " on view " walking one behind the other, 

 apparently as self-conscious as bridesmaids walking up 

 the aisle of a church in the wake of the bride at a 

 fashionable wedding. These birds mingle with zebras 

 on the grazing grounds. 



Scattered about in small herds, often in close proximity to the line, 

 this pretty gazelle will be recognised. It was discovered by 

 Joseph Thomson in his journey through Masailand to the 

 Victoria Nyanza (1883). 



