42 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 
a gully between this cutting and Tsavo Station. 
This would have taken too long to erect when rail- 
head was at the place, so a diversion had been made 
round it, the temporary track leading down almost 
to the bed of the nullah and up again on the further 
side. When the foundations and abutments were 
ready, the gully was spanned by an iron girder, the 
slopes leading up to it banked up on either side, and 
the permanent way laid on an easy grade. 
Then, also, a water supply had to be established ; 
and this meant some very pleasant work for me in 
taking levels up the banks of the river under the 
cool shade of the palms. While doing this, I often 
took my camp-kit with me, and a luncheon served 
in the wilds, with occasionally a friend to share it— 
when a friend was available—was delightful. On 
one occasion in particular, I went a long way up the 
river and was accompanied by a young member of 
my staff. The day had been exceedingly hot and 
we were both correspondingly tired when our work 
was finished, so my companion suggested that we 
should build a raft and float down-stream home. _ I 
was rather doubtful of the feasibility of the scheme, 
but nevertheless he decided to give it a trial. Set- 
ting to work with our axes, we soon had a raft built, 
lashing the poles together with the fibre which grows 
in abundance all over the district. When it was 
finished, we pushed it out of the little backwater 
