FROM MOMBASA TO THE WILDERNESS . 05 
OFF FROM MOMBASA FOR RANCH. 
Theodore Eoosevelt and the members of his party left Mombasa 
at 2:30 P. M. April 22, on a special train for Kapiti Plains station, 
whence they were conveyed to the ranch of Sir Alfred Pease on the 
Athi river. Sir Alfred was already there, awaiting the coming of the 
guests. The party remained at the ranch for one week, making it the 
base for shooting expeditions and then moved on for Nairobi. Acting 
Governor Jackson, of the protectorate accompanied the party. 
The train ran upward and westward all day over ridge and valley 
and through broken ground, deep, rugged gorges and glades of palms 
and climbing plants. After Makindu station the train passed over 
immense green pastures, watered by streams wooded by dense shrub¬ 
bery and dark fir-looking trees. Looking out from the windows of his 
comfortable car, the American traveler could see a whole zoological 
garden of wild animals crowding the plains. Zebras, antelopes and 
gazelles in herds of from 300 to 600 gaze in mute astonishment at the 
speeding train or scamper shyly away while the steam-whistle fills the 
wilderness with its shrill and awe-inspiring noise. With his field glass 
the ex-President could see at a distance long lines of black wildebeests 
or gnus, wild ostriches and many kinds of smaller game. 
The Kapiti Plains are entirely bare of trees and covered with short 
bushy grass, while the numerous ravines are filled with weeds, reed and 
thorn, with here and there a water pool—favorite haunts for lions and 
rhinoceros. A famous hunter, Colonel G. E. Smith, Chief of the Anglo- 
German Boundary Survey, who has spent almost half a lifetime in the 
wildest places in Eastern Africa, killed in these same places seventeen 
rhinos in one day. Here Sir Alfred Pease has built a new house for 
the reception of Boosevelt. It is a genuine one-story African bunga¬ 
low of five rooms, located on the high south end of the Machakos range, 
nearly seven thousand feet above the level of the sea. From its broad 
veranda Boosevelt will have a splendid view over the surrounding 
olive-clad hills and the endless Kapiti Plains to where, at a distance of 
120 miles, the gigantic Mount Kilimanjaro towers 20,000 feet above 
the horizon. 
Arrived at Simba station we are at “The Place of the Lions”; and 
