Tavistock Books

DIARY Of A TRIP To SOUTH AFRICA 1951 - 1952. S. S. Stirling Castle. [cover title].

Finnie, T. J.

(n. p.): 1952. 1st (and only?) printing. 38 ll, text recto only. ~ 46 lines per page, ~ 10 words per line, ~ 17500 words. Date of entry in left margin. Running titles, primarily locations (e.g., 'Victoria Falls. Zambesi River. Beitbridge.', ll. 23) visited during the recorded days' activities on that page. 10-1/4" x 7-3/4" [26 cm x 19.7 cm]. Bound in dark green buckram cloth, with gilt stamped title lettering to front board. Average wear. Splay to boards. Very Good. Item #44736

An apparently self-published, typed [transcribed?] journal/diary of the author's 128 day trip to South Africa. Beginning with his 19 November 1951 departure from England aboard the Steamship Sterling, he records daily activities through his return, April 4,1952. Most entries occupy multiple lines, with some as much as half a page [if not more].

While on board the Stirling, Finnie describes all his encounters with crew and other passengers in great detail, including the death of a fellow passenger, and the burial at sea. As one might expect, the journal's content becomes more interesting once Finnie arrives in South Africa. He travels extensively, and records the details thereof.... places visited include Peitermaritzburg, Johannesburg, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Ruins, Bulawayo, Durban, &c., &c.

Entry examples:

Durban, Dec,30,1951
... At 5:30 pm drove to the Beach and walked as far as the pier where men were fishing for sharks. I saw none but a friend whom I met said he had just seen one caught. .... All seats by the beaches & cafes are labeled 'For Europeans only!' The Zulu rickshaw men in their grotesque get up of horns & feathers abound everywhere, and are very well patronized. A wonderful place - foreign. Very hot all day and tonight.


Zulu Reserve, Jan 3,1952
We returned to the track leading to the Reserve dismounted, and walked a short distance, and there we were in the Reserve and overlooking the Thousand Hills, on and around which are the curious shaped bee hive huts of the Zulus. We visited three. The men were at work in the towns but the women and children were there in all their primitive glory. Later two men turned up, and gave an exhibition of assegai throwing, and than danced with the women. The view of the hills and valleys is truly magnificent and beggars description...

Johannesburg, Jan 20,1952
The few huts of the natives are miserably poor: broken mud walls and roofed by sheets of corrugated iron held on by a number of stones. Until we neared Johannesburg very little cultivation is to be seen, and then only maize and sunflowers.

Sabi River.  Tzaneen. Magoeba’s Kloof., Jan 24,1952
Thursday left Sabi- River at 9:30 a.m. and had a long run of 104 miles to TZANEEN- though the Low Velt with panoramic views of the famous Drakensburg Mountains. Stopped at Gravelotte for a few minutes to stretch our legs and have a much needed drink.

Lundi River Zimbabwe Ruins , Bulawayo., Jan 28,1952
I was called at 4:30 had tea at 5 and away at 5:30 am. Water was still flowing over the bridge, and would be quite 1 ft deep so half a dozen niggers pushed us arcoss: the floor of the car was flooded, but no harm done, & we finally gained the other side of the river. An interesting run though the hills brought us to the River Tokwe- where another hold up. The bridge was just passable but the lorry which crossed the Lundi River was held up on  asleep incline up from the bridge, and this barred all traffic for nearly two hours. Finally we got away, and after a run of over 300 miles, visiting the Zimbabwe Ruins, & Fort Victoria reached Bala Bala at 1:30 for lunch and Bulawayo where we were housed in the Grand Hotel Annexe. The main building was full up - a high palatial building with huge lofty rooms. Some 200 were dining , and I had difficulty in locating the Andersons. Having a couple of hours to spare before dinner we ran out to the tombs Cecil Rhodes & Dr. Jameson high up in the Matoppo Hills. I had to do a lot of climbing, but it was worth it.

All-in-all, a quite fascinating, first-person look at early 1950s South Africa.

Price: $1,500.00