IV 



THE FIRST CAMP 



OUR very first start into the new country was 

 made when we piled out from the little train 

 standing patiently awaiting the good pleasure of our 

 descent. That feature strikes me with ever new 

 wonder — the accommodating way trains of the 

 Uganda Railway have of waiting for you. One day, 

 at a little wayside station, C. and I were idly exchang- 

 ing remarks with the only white man in sight, killing 

 time until the engine should whistle to a resumption 

 of the journey. The guard lingered about just out 

 of earshot. At the end of five minutes C. happened 

 to catch his eye, whereupon he ventured to approach. 



** When you have finished your conversation," said 

 he politely, "we are all ready to go on." 



On the morning in question there were a lot of us 

 to disembark — one hundred and twenty-two, to be 

 exact — of which four were white. We were not 

 yet acquainted with our men, nor yet with our stores, 

 nor with the methods of our travel. The train went 

 off and left us in the middle of a high plateau, with 



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