XX 
THE UGANDA RAILWAY 
197 
fact makes the pecuniary success of the undertaking 
all the more wonderful. To increase the traffic on the 
line, and, what is still more important, to open up and 
develop the resources of the interior, it has long been 
recognised that branch feeder lines are essential. Two 
such feeders are already in course of construction. 
The first, which is the work of a public company, is 
to run due west from Ulu to the great lake of Magadi, 
in order to make use of the wonderful soda deposit of 
which it is formed. The other, a Government work, 
runs from Nairobi towards Fort Hall, and opens up 
what should be one of the most prosperous of the 
settled areas. At present it is only projected as far as 
the Thika river, but it is obvious that this is but a 
stepping-stone, and that it will shortly be extended to 
Fort Hall and to the western slopes of Kenia with its 
magnificent forests, fertile soil, and teeming population, 
who have already many thousand acres under cultiva¬ 
tion. The next feeder, in all probability, to be initiated 
will be either one to tap the Uasin Guishu plateau 
and all the fine country along the Nzoia river, or else 
through the rich Kavirondo district up to Mumias. The 
latter would benefit the native, and would pay from the 
start. The former would help to develop the Pro¬ 
tectorate as a British colony, and would be a boon 
and eventually a most paying one to our fellow- 
countrymen. 
Before taking leave of the subject, we will hurry the 
reader briefly over the line from Mombasa to the lake, 
guaranteeing him that he will wish often during the 
actual journey that it took as short a time to perform 
as to read about. 
Arriving at Mombasa station, hot and probably 
rather fussed, we shall at once be faced with the 
