xx THE UGANDA RAILWAY 197 



fact makes the pecuniary success of the undertaking 

 all the more wonderful. To increase the traffic on the 

 line, and, what is still more important, to open up and 

 develop the resources of the interior, it has long been 

 recognised that branch feeder lines are essential. Two 

 such feeders are already in course of construction. 

 The first, which is the work of a public company, is 

 to run due west from Ulu to the great lake of Magadi, 

 in order to make use of the wonderful soda deposit of 

 which it is formed. The other, a Government work, 

 runs from Nairobi towards Fort Hall, and opens up 

 what should be one of the most prosperous of the 

 settled areas. At present it is only projected as far as 

 the Thika river, but it is obvious that this is but a 

 stepping-stone, and that it will shortly be extended to 

 Fort Hall and to the western slopes of Kenia with its 

 magnificent forests, fertile soil, and teeming population, 

 who have already many thousand acres under cultiva- 

 tion. The next feeder, in all probability, to be initiated 

 will be either one to tap the Uasin Guishu plateau 

 and all the fine country along the Nzoia river, or else 

 through the rich Kavirondo district up to Mumias. The 

 latter would benefit the native, and would pay from the 

 start. The former would help to develop the Pro- 

 tectorate as a British colony, and would be a boon 

 and eventually a most paying one to our fellow- 

 countrymen. 



Before taking leave of the subject, we will hurry the 

 reader briefly over the line from Mombasa to the lake, 

 guaranteeing him that he will wish often during the 

 actual journey that it took as short a time to perform 

 as to read about. 



Arriving at Mombasa station, hot and probably 

 rather fussed, we shall at once be faced with the 



