17 FEBRUARY 1939, Page 34

ALL THE WAY ROUND: SEA ROADS TO AFRICA

By C. Fox Smith

This is an unusual sort of travel book. Miss Fox Smith, long famous as a writer on ships, had always, since reading Rider Haggard as a small girl, had a passionate longing to see Africa; and at last her wish came true in the shape of a voyage right round the continent. The result is a narrative full of parentheses and anecdotes, though these are the par- ticular attraction of the book (Michael Joseph, 15s.), for the author has a rare knowledge of those out-of-the-way ex- plorations and battles long ago which crowd the searoads with interest. Even a " Rhodesian Interlude " far inland brings a new story of Dr. Jameson and a passionate defence of his achievements. The mystery of the Waratah,' the riddle of the rollers at Ascension, the wreck of the Birkenhead,' are among the many interesting happenings which Miss Fox Smith retells in an absorbing way, and she includes also many stories of cities, sea coasts and islands which will for most readers open new windows on the history and geography of the always new continent.