SECRET AFRICA
By Lawrence G. Green
Secret Africa (Stanley Paul, 18s.) is good honest entertainment of the " believe it or not" type. Mr. Green is quite frankly a journalist in search of good stories, which he tells in a simple, readable way. He knows exactly which public he is catering for, and it will not be disappointed in his latest book. If anyone is in doubt Whelher he belongs to that public or not, he has but to ask himself whether he is attracted by the title. If he is, he will enjoy, the contents. For here are queer tales of the things that have happened, arc happening, may happen. in out-of-the- way corners of the still dark—in patches —continent. The publishers state that " Some . of his most astounding stories are backed up by convincing evidence." For the rest—such as his account; front hearsay, of the man-eating tree of Mauritius—he tells what he has heard and leaves the reader to believe it or not. But while a good deal of his book is filled with almost incredible stories of the miraculous cures of witch-doctors, of lost gold and diamond ridges, and the luck—good and bad—of prospectors, there is a solid measure of straight descriptive writing. The more unusual industries of Smith-West Africa are described in some detail, and lesser known incidents in African history related. His account of the Persian- lamb trade, for instance, is an excellent piece of reporting, none the worse for coming under the chapter heading : " Mystery Spots in South-West Africa." To -repeat : here is good, honest enter- tainment. If it had pretended to be more, there would surely have been a map.
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