ABSTRACT
Although England has such large interests on the East Coast of Africa, she has no first-class line of steamers touching at the ports there. The three lines which carry most of the passenger service are the Austrian Lloyd, I sailing from Trieste, the Messagerie Maritime from Marseilles, and the German East African Line from Hamburg, touching at such Mediterranean ports as Marseilles, Genoa, and Naples. The Austrian Lloyd boats are the favorite with
A WORD OF COUNSEL
the British officials on the East Coast. Of the Messagerie boats I know little except that they undoubtedly have an excellent table. Of the German East African Line, on which I have travelled three times, I can only say that they have the advantages and defects of German lines the world over. You always feel safe on a German ship - even if you do have veal and pork served in the Red Sea with the thermometer hovering near the hundred mark. This line makes the entire circuit of Africa. Do you realize that Africa is the only continent which can be entirely circumnavigated by the ordinary traveller? You can sail from Hamburg, either going down the West Coast and returning by the East Coast, or vice versa, a trip which takes about three months. The larger ships on this line are very comfortable. The smaller ones are to be avoided. You will need rather a large and assorted wardrobe to make the journey comfortably, but as you have access to the luggage-room on certain days of the week, this is easily arranged. A useful dress for women is a thin, unlined silk or cotton costume of
SOME AFRICAN HIGHWAYS
black and white check, or dark blue, as at times of coaling the ship is apt to get very dirty. This should be supplemented by light summer dresses and some pretty frocks to be worn in the evenings. For men a khaki suit and a few white linen suits are desirable, in addition to an ordinary outfit.
