Hunting in British East Africa (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1909. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II MOMBASA, THE UGANDA RAILROAD AND NAIROBI We left Naples on the steamship Burgameister, of the German East Africa Line, on Monday, November 18,1907, late in the afternoon, and arrived at Port Said on the 22d. We spent several hours at this interesting town, then late at night entered the canal, when the ship put out its great search-light, which they all carry. During the night we were constantly passing vessels, and each time one of the ships tied up to the shore. Speed in going through the canal is limited to four miles an hour, and about twenty-four hours after leaving Port Said we reached Suez, and had our first taste of tropical heat. We spent four days on the Red Sea, getting a view of Mount Ararat, and finally reached Aden, one of the most unattractive places, and certainly the hottest, on earth. It is devoid of vegetation, for there is practically no rainfall except once a year, and when this occurs the water is collected and stored by great dams in rocky gorges back of the town. From these reservoirs it is supplied to the public in barrels, hauled by donkeys, camels, and big, Indian humped oxen, as well as in goatskins carried on the backs of men. We here encountered representatives of almost all the Oriental races, as well as great numbers of Somalis, most of the latter presenting "chits," or letters with alleged recommendations from former employers, mostly British officers. Some of them had been engaged beforehand as gun-bearers by fellow passengers. We approached the island on which Mombasa is situated at sunrise on December 4, and encountered a most beautiful view. Our ship was too large to go into the Mombasa Harbor proper, so we entered that of Kilindini, which is the deep-water port and lies at the back of the island. As we drew near, ...