Friday August 11, 1922

We rose this morning at an unearthly hour before it was light in order to get ourselves and our hand luggage to the station by 6.30 am. As we retired last night at a correspondingly early hour, our rest was not shortened - but this way of living is new and strange to me!!

We reached the station in good time our party of 8. The railway carriages are in shape more like one of our tram cars and each carriage holds twelve persons. There are no separate compartments. Each person has a revolving chair (like an office chair) and a small collapsing table is fitted between chairs. There is a little platform behind where one enters the carriage and a little vestibule and lavatory at the forward end.

Trains normally run twice a week but when a boat is in they run more frequently. We were very fortunate in securing a whole carriage to ourselves (2nd class) and this we retain for the whole 2-days journey. This added greatly to the enjoyment of this section of our travel, which is said to be the most trying part of all. It turned out however to be one of the jolliest bits to date. Mr. Davies was in great form: and what with him and games, eating, sleeping and getting out at stopping places - this time passed quickly enough, if not too quickly!

The railway is in some respects more like a tram line in that the train goes up and down "hills" and round tremendous corners which our trains at home wouldn't look at: We had a splendid little engine and kept a consistent 12-14 mph throughout the day, reaching Thysville about 6.00 pm. In face of delays which sometimes occur this was a very good journey.

The first 20 miles of the railway journey is through the most magnificent scenery: mountains and ground in the extreme. We ran by the side of the river for a short distance and had a close view of the hill on which Stanley camped on the opposite bank. Then we passed close to the place where he landed (on the south bank) when the natives became too hostile on the north side. We then left the river and traveled among the great mountains; towering above each other as far as we could see. The gigantic scale of the scene is what makes the greatest appeal: it is so vast, so awesome. It was no small achievement to lay this rail line - narrow as it is: one wonders what the workmen thought of it all as they laid the metals - or whether they were too engrossed - or used to it - to think anything about it. The sleepers frequently have to be made out of metal as protection against the white ants (termites) who would devour wooden sleepers with relish!

Leaving the mountains behind us we travel over rolling hills of course grass and vegetation with a native village every few miles. We stop frequently to take in water and this gives us the chance to stretch our legs and make the acquaintance of the natives. Rev Ennals has a toy monkey with a mechanical device for moving its head and this greatly interests children and grown ups at every stopping place. Mr Davies with his rollocking ways interests and charms them just as much!


- We have seen some beautifully coloured birds on this journey : like little bits of winged sunshine with all the colours of the sunset included.

- At one stopping place the stoker ran off into the bush (any wild country is called bush whether it is forest or grassland) this was not discovered till the whistle went for the train to depart - at which point the native station master seized a big stick and went after the missing employee! However he soon turned up with a sack of food and we went on merrily!

Another delay was caused by Mr Davies requesting hot water from the engine for our culinary purposes! In this case the attitude of the station master was very different. He came along and explained he would help, that we were getting all we wanted, that the train was waiting to go and we were to be sure to be completely satisfied before taking our seats to allow the train to proceed!