LAKE NAIVASHA 



Longonot on the railway a magnificent view met the 

 eye, wonderful scenery, with Lake Naivasha some 

 four miles away lying almost at our feet. The lake 

 is distinctly beautiful. Its waters are a deep blue, 

 its shores very irregular, with a seemingly endless 

 succession of miniature bays and headlands. Sm^all 

 islands are dotted in circular fashion, and from their 

 crater-like shape appear to be the remains of volcanic 

 action; whilst hills bound the lake on three sides. 



In many parts a fringe of papyrus and water-lilies 

 nearly a mile in width extends along the shore, and 

 water-fowl of every description abound. Hippo are 

 also to be found, as I have mentioned in a previous 

 chapter, though, generally speaking, they are difficult 

 to approach. 



Naivasha itself is situated on some rising ground 

 close to the Lake. It has the reputation of being 

 dusty and windy, and it certainly seemed to deserve 

 it. It is not large. A hotel, some British and Indian 

 stores, and a few houses constitute the town, except 

 for Government buildings and the native prison. 

 Four miles inland is a Government farm. It does 

 not sound very imposing, perhaps, yet for British East 

 Africa, now called Kenya Colony, Naivasha is quite 

 a big and important place. One has to readjust one's 

 standards, that is all. 



It was about five o'clock in the afternoon when the 

 train set us down at Naivasha. I had hoped to find 



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