196 A COLONY IN THE MAKING chap. 



knowledge how a lion entered a first-class carriage and 

 abstracted an inmate who was lying in wait to demolish 

 the beast himself. The story reads like a romance, 

 but is absolutely authentic. To me the greatest 

 wonder is how the lion sprang through the small 

 square window of the carriage as he did, bearing his 

 prey. Again all recollect the various Babu station- 

 masters who have wired from time to time : " Lion on 

 platform, me in ticket office, please wire instructions," 

 or " please arrange." Lions are still a great feature 

 and may occasionally be seen from the train. Indeed, 

 when a boat train brings its load of tourists, shooters 

 and settlers, it is usual for a crowd of towzled figures, 

 male and female, to discuss at the early breakfast stop 

 the herd of lions which they saw browsing under the 

 trees at early dawn. 



The older hand generally points out that it is a 

 curious fact that, whereas it is the rule rather than the 

 exception for the newcomer to see lots of lions on his 

 first trip up, those who live in the country do not see 

 one once in a hundred journeys. To this the tourist 

 retorts with heat : " That is because you Colonials are 

 sunk in sluggish slumber at lion time." 



It is, of course, a matter for regret that the railway 

 happened to hit off so few of the richest agricultural 

 portions of the Protectorate. When the line was built 

 there was no idea that there could ever be created a 

 white colony in the heart of Africa. As far as one can 

 judge, the idea was solely to connect Uganda, the 

 fertility of which country had already been grasped, 

 with the sea. Consequently, to take the shortest and 

 eaisest route was the main object in view. In any 

 case, it is certain that a very small proportion of the 

 richest and most fertile districts is touched ; which 



