lo ENGLAND TO EAST AFRICA 



on either side of the line in which it is forbidden to 

 shoot anything but Hons and leopards, and the 

 other creatures seem to be perfectly well aware of 

 the protection that they have there. As we 

 approached the famous Athi Plains the country 

 literally swarmed with game ; it was like travelling 

 through a very well stocked cattle-run or a vast 

 zoological garden. Huge herds of stupid-looking 

 hartebeeste stared stolidly as the train went lumber- 

 ing by, hardly taking the trouble to get out of its 

 way ; little groups of wildebeeste performed un- 

 gainly gambols, and seemed ever trying without 

 success to stand upon their heads. Burchell's 

 zebras, looking a silvery blue rather than yellow, 

 were feeding placidly in large herds, and family 

 parties of Thomson's and Grant's gazelles scampered 

 about everywhere. Two or three immense elands 

 kept loftily aloof from the common herd, and here 

 and there we saw an ostrich, looking like some 

 forgotten relic of an antediluvian age. If one 

 is fortunate there is always a chance of seeing 

 a rhinoceros, or a family of lions, or a herd of 

 giraffes, in some part or other of this wonderful 

 journey. 



But more to be remembered than all the herds 

 of game on the Athi Plains was a glorious view of 

 the highest mountain in Africa, the great cone of 

 Kilimanjaro, rising out of the morning mists 

 lOO miles to the south, its snows glittering in 

 the brilliant sunlight. From near Nairobi I looked 



