GLIMPSES OF EAST AFRICA AND ZANZIBAR 



is generally given on the King's birthday. On that 

 one of 1905 the sub-commissioner gave a " book- 

 title party " ; all the rank and fashion of Nairobi 

 were to be seen there in their pretty summer 

 frocks. The garden belonging to the sub-commis- 

 sioner is a lovely place, made chiefly by prisoners, 

 with beds and beds of roses which seem to bloom 

 all the year round, making the garden always gay. 

 His wife was devoted to ferns and had a lovely 

 collection on her verandah ; lovely maiden-hairs 

 brought from farther up the line, and several other 

 sorts of ferns seemed to flourish under her care. 



When the colonel went up to Nandi he left his 

 boy behind, and the boy often stopped us to ask 

 news of his master when he chanced to meet us. 

 He would also walk along beside us and discourse 

 on various topics, till we said " Good-bye " as a 

 gentle hint. He was a very good-looking Somali, 

 and Somalis as servants seem a superior breed. 

 Poor boy, he died before we left Nairobi. One day 

 he told us it was a fast day for the followers of 

 Mohammed. On our return, I thought to catch 

 Baruku, so asked him if he had had any food yet. 

 His answer being in the affirmative, I replied that 

 evidently he was not a Mohammedan. He sur- 

 prised me by promptly rushing off as if mad to my 

 meat safe, and pulled out our bacon, and explained 

 that since he had been made our cook he splashed 

 his hand while cooking the bacon, and was no 



60 



