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Fire Snake The Railroad that Changed East Africa by Francine Jacobs Dust Jacket
Fire Snake The Railroad that Changed East Africa by Francine Jacobs
Haaard Cover with Dust Jacket
Copyright 1980
With photographs and map. 96 pages Indexed
Contents
An Ancient Prophecy 13
1 The Iron Snake 15
2 The Lunatic Line 21
3 Nature Takes a Toll 27
4 A Dread Unearthly Place 35
5 A Colonel Arrives 41
6 The Man-Eating Lions of Tsavo 47
7 The Shortcut 53
8 To Kikuyuland 61
9 A Masterpiece of Engineering 67
10 The Final Leg 77
Epilogue 85
Bibliography 91
Index 93
The construction of the Uganda Railway in East Africa at the end of the nineteenth century was an incredible feat of engineering. in this book a well-known nonfiction writer tells the remarkable story of its coming and draws a vivid picture of colonial Africa.
The author begins with an account of the British decision in 1895 to build a railway from Mombasa on the eastern coast to Lake Victoria and the opposition that developed to this "Lunatic Line." She then describes the building of the railroad, which crossed the lands of the Kamba, the Kikuyu, the Maasai, and the Nandi, bringing more than 30,000 Indian workers and English engineers into the interior. Dramatically she relates the obstacles encountered-disease, difficult terrain, insect swarms, and man-eating lions-and sketches the colorful, often heroic personalities involved. In conclusion, she considers the influence of the railroad on the land and people of modern Kenya.
In a clear and lively style, Fire Snake introduces young readers to a crucial historical period of special interest today.
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