CHAPTER II 



AT NAIROBI 



THE last hundred miles or so of the journey from 

 Mombasa to Nairobi is especially full of interest, and 

 it may safely be said that the view of wild life which 

 may be obtained from the carriage windows cannot 

 be equalled on any other railway in the world. Here, 

 on the great Athi Plain, all kinds of game may be 

 seen grazing away quite unconcernedly within a 

 stone's throw of the passing train. The traveller 

 may observe a dainty little Thomson's gazelle lift 

 its head up from the grass, wag its tail in a friendly 

 dog-like manner, stare for a moment or two, and then 

 quietly resume its grazing, as if a train coming 

 through its domain was the most natural and 

 commonplace thing in the world. Further on a 

 stately and beautiful Grant's gazelle will gaze stead- 

 fastly at the puffing engine as it rushes past, without 

 showing the slightest sign of fear. Numbers of 

 hartebeeste dot the plain on each side of the line, 



13 



