II THE UGANDA RAILWAY 23 



The temperature throughout the journey varies 

 within very wide limits. It is a curious and pleasant 

 experience to pass from the moist and sticky heat of 

 the coast to the dry and agreeable air of the Ukaml^a 

 Province, but it is a surprise to wake up in the early 

 morning on the Athi Plain, in the Kikuyu forest, or at 

 the Mau Escarpment shivering with cold and to find the 

 temperature at, or very little above, the freezing 

 point. 



The alterations in the physical and atmospheric 

 conditions in the countries traversed by the railway is 

 attended with corresponding changes in the characters 

 of the trees, shrubs, bushes, and plants. As we leave 

 the coast, the tropical vegetation is gradually replaced 

 by the prickly acacia and the euphorbia. Around 

 Nairobi the landscape is beautified with the calodendron, 

 hibiscus, salvia, ficus, and wild coffee. The Kikuyu 

 forests abound in junipers, wild olives, brambles, violets, 

 clover, and bracken. Higher still comes the scrub, the 

 prickly bush, and the acacia. lu the rains these trees 

 are covered with leaves, and are further beautified by 

 the convolvulus and other creepers which invade them 

 and burst into flower. 



The tribes of men living in the districts traversed by 

 the railway are sure to interest travellers. The chief 

 of these are Wa-Kikuyu, Masai, Kavirondo, and Nandi. 



In a railway journey through 580 miles of country it 

 is probable that examples of all these races will be 

 seen. Many come down to watch the train from sheer 

 curiosity. Otliers walk along the footway by the side 

 of the line or will be seen engaged in work, or herding 

 cattle. Many are as interested in the white passenger 

 as the latter is curious about them. Some of the 

 natives come to barter or to sell curiosities and 

 especially spears. 



Among the various contrivances which civilisation 

 has introduced into East Africa, there is probably none 

 which the natives find more useful than the kerosene 



