184 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 
and bridges thrown across rivers. Then a line of 
coolies moves along, placing sleepers at regular 
intervals; another gang drops the rails in their 
places ; yet another brings along the keys, fishplates, 
bolts and nuts ; while following these are the men 
who actually fix the rails on the sleepers and link up 
from one to another. Finally, the packing gang 
finishes the work by filling in earth and ballast under 
and around the steel sleepers to give them the 
necessary grip and rigidity. Some days we were 
able to lay only a few yards, while on other days we 
might do over a mile; all depended on the nature 
of the country we had to cever. On one occasion 
we succeeded in breaking the record for a day’s 
platelaying, and were gratified at receiving a 
telegram of congratulation from the Railway Com- 
mittee at the Foreign Office. 
I made it my custom to take a walk each morning 
for some distance ahead of rails along the centre- 
line of the railway, in order to spy out the land and 
to form a rough estimate of the material that would 
be required in the way of sleepers, girders for 
temporary bridges, etc. It was necessary to do this 
in order to avoid undue delay taking place owing to 
shortage of material of any kind. About ten days 
after my arrival at Machakos Road I walked in this 
way for five or six miles ahead of the last-laid rail. 
It was rather unusual for me to go so far, and, as it 
firlice 
