viii PREFACE 



of the place and brought civilisation in its train, was 

 then only in process of construction, and the country 

 through which it was being built was still in its 

 primitive savage state, as indeed, away from the 

 railway, it still is. 



If this simple account of two years' work and play 

 in the wilds should prove of any interest, or help 

 even in a small way to call attention to the beautiful 

 and valuable country which we possess on the 

 Equator, I shall feel more than compensated for the 

 trouble I have taken in writing it. 



I am much indebted to the Hon. Mrs. Cyril Ward, 

 Sir Guilford Molesworth, K.C.I. E., Mr. T. J. 

 Spooner and Mr. C. Rawson for their kindness in 

 allowing me to reproduce photographs taken by 

 them. My warmest thanks are also due to that 

 veteran pioneer of Africa, Mr. F. C. Selous, for 

 giving my little book so kindly an introduction 

 to the public as is provided by the " Foreword " 

 which he has been good enough to write. 



J. H. P. 



August, 1907. 



