AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



such travellers as ourselves. It was simply a high 

 stone room, with three iron beds, and a corner so 

 cemented that one could pour pails of water over 

 one's self without wetting down the whole place. The 

 beds were supplied with mosquito canopies, and 

 strong wire springs. Over these we spread our own 

 bedding, and thankfully resumed our slumbers. 



The morning discovered to us Voi as the station, 

 the district commissioner's house on a distant side 

 hill, and a fairly extensive East Indian bazaar. 

 The keepers of the latter traded with the natives. 

 Immediately about the station grew some flat shady 

 trees. All else was dense thorn scrub pressing close 

 about the town. Over opposite were the tall, 

 rounded mountains. 



Nevertheless, in spite of its appearance, Voi has 

 its importance in the scheme of things. From it^ 

 crossing the great Serengetti desert, runs the track 

 to Kilimanjaro and that part of German East Africa. 

 The Germans have as yet no railroad; so they must 

 perforce patronize the British line this far, and then 

 trek across. As the Kilimanjaro district is one rich 

 in natives and trade, the track is well used. Most 

 of the transport is done by donkeys — either in 

 carts or under the pack saddle. As the distance from 

 water to water is very great, the journey is a hard 

 one. This fact, and the incidental consideration that 



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