Travel Notes
MOROCCO
THE development of Morocco during the last few years has been so thorough and so rapid that it is almost incredible. Where, comparatively recently, only a camel cara- van could have undertaken a journey requiring a fortnight, motor cars now accomplish the same journey in a single day, for excellent roads cross the country from end to end. At such places as Casablanca, Agadir, Meknes, Safi; and Marrakesh, first-class hotels have been built which are comparable to the best hotels in Egypt. Modern Morocco, indeed, is begin- ning to rival Egypt in the matter of tourists, and not without good reason. The climate is excellent, with an abundance of warm and brilliant sunshine, the air is bracing without being chilly, and is excellent for invalids, particularly those with respiratory troubles.
One of the most popular tourist centres is Marrakesh. The city occupies the centre of an immense palm grove at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. Here one finds, in addi- tion to the novelty of one's surroundings, such European entertainments as theatres, concerts, cinemas, horse-racing, golf, and all forms of outdoor sport. The climate is at its best between October and May ; the tem- perature during this period varies between 70° and 8o° maximum, and from 42° to 55° minimum. The gardens of Marrakesh are amongst the most famous in the world : there is the Menara, a beautiful park of olive trees, with its green-tiled pavilion reflected in the water of a lake : there is a delightful estate known as the Aguedal, in which one finds regular grouping of olive and orange trees, and pools edged by pink stone. The Mamounia Gardens make a wonderful setting to the hotel there, and the Palmeraie provides walks or rides amongst groves of 200,000 palm trees, gardens, olive trees and vines. A tour should include visits to Marrakesh, Fedhala, Rabat, Meknes, Fez, and Tangiers, and excursions into the Atlas Mountains. The same tour with very slight modification can start from Tangiers, or enter Morocco by way of Algiers. The French Railways grant a 4o% reduction for transit across France, and 35% by steamship lines be- tween Bordeaux or Marseilles and Casa- blanca for persons booking inclusive tours in Morocco.
SOUTH AND EAST AFRICAN YEAR BOOK The 1939 edition of The South and East African Year Book and Guide contains more than 5,000 amendments of the matter and figures published in 1938. The thoroughness always shown in this useful volume is well maintained in the new edition. There is a Desk Section for the Business Man, a very complete section for the Tourist, another for the Settler, and still other sections for Naturalists and Sports- men, Invalids, Teachers and Students. The Book contains 64 pages of maps in colour, all of which have been carefully revised for this edition. Some of these maps have been specially drawn, and are unobtainable else- where. It is published by Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston and Co., Ltd., at 2s. 6d. (3s. post free in United Kingdom).
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