NAIROBI  ,

capital of the British East Africa protectorate and of the province of Ukamba, 327 M. by rail N.W. of Mombasa and 257 M . S.E. of Port Florence on Victoria Nyanza . Pop . (1907) 4737, including 350 Europeans and 1752 Indians . Nairobi is built on the Athi plains, at the foot of the Kikuyu hills and 5430 ft. above the sea; it commands magnificent views of Kilimanjaro and Mt . Kenya . It is the headquarters of the Uganda railway, of the military forces in the protectorate, and of the Colonists' Association . It is divided into European, Indian and native quarters . Midway between the European and Indian quarters stands the town hall . The other public buildings include railway works, places of worship (Protestant, Roman Catholic, Mahommedan and Hindu) and schools, an Indian bazaar, a general hospital and waterworks—the water being obtained from springs 13 M. distant . The site of Nairobi was selected as the headquarters of the Uganda railway, and the first buildings were erected in 1899 . For some time nearly all its inhabitants were railway officials and Indian coolies engaged in the construction of the line .

In 1902 the surrounding

highlands were found to be suitable for European settlement, and Nairobi speedily grew in importance; in 1907 the headquarters of the administration were transferred to it from Mombasa . The town is provided with clubs, cricket and athletic grounds and a racecourse .