LAST CHANCE IN AFRICA

Mr. Farson is an expert reporter, and has the faculty for making his stories a salutary bland of personal experience, human interest bits, perceptive characterizations and revealing analysis of the results of his probings. Behind God's Back played a part in revealing- before they were ready for such revelations- the Nazi penetration of Africa. Last Chance in Africa, which has to do almost wholly with Kenya, and the periphery, is nonpolitical, to a large extent, except in so far as he explores the facets of British administration. He sees it as a permanent British occupation- a white man's country, essential as it is to Britain's new defense line. He sees Kenya as a land of almost cruel contrasts,- singularly beautiful, abounding in those things that make it a sportman's paradise, and yet underneath turbulent with the ugliness of black and white at odds. In final conclusion, he reluctantly accepts the insuperable difficulties of infusing the native with ambition, skill, energy, or any desire to improve his lot. Here and there, exceptions heartened him- but in the main he found the Africans unready for education, needing prodding and continuous direction. On the score of religion, again he reached conclusions that will be unpalatable- that the missions had harmed rather than helped, due primarily to the lack of practising Christianity on the part of so-called Christians. Out of half-baked acceptance, superimposed on pagan traditions have emerged some fanatical cults, with political implications. There is a vivid quality to the writing that carries one along with Mr. Farson in four months journeying through deserts, fertile plateaus, jungle and settlements.