1 84 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 lo 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 cover. 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 



