ABSTRACT
LET us take our first view of the Rift Valley from the railway line. The train stops at Escarpment station and we get out to stretch our legs. In front of us is the forested edge of the Kikuyu escarpment. The line appears to run straight to the edge of this escarpment and disappear. There seems no possible way of descending it. The whistle blows, we resume our places, the train starts, and we wait anxiously to see what will happen. Will we shoot straight off the edge into space, or will the engine driver pull up in time?
