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5-31-'56

Darling Tafern, I've given a lot of time the last week to reading Eleanor Farrar's Journal of her African trip. It is absorbing, not only for the perusal but for the research. I've had 2 atlas's by me all the time and have consulted the ency dictionary constantly to get out of it something of what she put into it. In spite of the mishaps, misinformation and rudeness of officials, etc - she encountered, she stuck doggedly to her determination to see Africa. I get a good idea of the continent now, where before my ideas were hazy. She went clear to Cape-town and up and down the Coasts away, then saw the Victoria Falls on her way up. At the equator - which she doesn't mention - it was only 90° but from there, Nairobi, to Cairo and back to Luxor - the land of the pyramids, mummies, etc - she found filth, squalor and beggars. Then she had a bad accident at Cairo and it was wheel-chair and help from her guides after that. Tho she didn't give up the trip to Portugal, after suffering at Istanbul and Rome. She liked Portugal best of all. It was so clean after Egypt and Turkey that she'd like to go back for a vacation there.

Along the side of the page Thanks for Laura's card. Please send her address!