ABSTRACT
Captain Nelson was shortly expected to take command of " Fort Smith," as the new stockade was called, but he had been deserted by his men, and was now lying sick at the Kibwezi. Meanwhile Mr Purkiss was commandant. The fort, which was on the site I had abandoned in favour of Dagoreti, was well constructed, and more pretentious than my hasty stockades had been. " But insideI write, " the buildings are really admirable, all done by Purkiss. His dwellinghouse is of burnt brick, with door and window frames of sawn timber. There is a huge fireplace with a chimney, and the walls are plastered as smooth as those of an English house, and adorned with Masai spears and with pictures. There is a brick store, and the station is full of houses for natives, cattle, and flocks. In the centre is a green turf-plot, wired off, and in the middle of it a tall flag-staff. His table is a solid structure of sawn timber, and is covered by a clean white tablecloth ! The dinner he gave us was admirable, the comfortable arm-chairs were a luxury, and we had a most enjoyable evening."
