CHAPTER XXXIV 
CRICKET, FOOTBALL, LAWN-TENNIS, GOLF, AND 
HOCKEY 
While cricket cannot be said to be extremely popular 
in the Protectorate, there is a good deal played 
during the two seasons in the year, that of July to 
October being the principal. The reason of the com¬ 
parative unpopularity is simple. In a young country 
where everyone is hustling for a living at the present 
and a fortune in the future, it is hard to find time for a 
game which lasts at least the whole of one day. Still 
the keen cricketer can be quite sure of a game once a 
week in the capital. In Nairobi the principal clubs 
are—The Gymkhana, Parklands, the Railway, and 
the Indian team, the first-named being usually the 
strongest, while other clubs are Port Florence, 
Nakuru and Mombasa, which vary greatly in strength 
from time to time. The principal match of the year 
is Officials versus Settlers, taking place during race 
week, and competition for places in the two teams is 
very keen. 
The wickets are of matting with the outfielding of 
grass, and this fact, added to the beautiful light, 
which is almost perfect, being neither dull nor glaring, 
renders the batsman’s task comparatively easy. 
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