The Vegan Summer 1965 by The Vegan Society

T H E VEGAN SOCIETY Founded November,

1944

Veganism is a way of living which excludes all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, the animal kingdom, and includes a reverence and compassion f o r all life. It applies to the practice of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey, animal milk and its derivatives, and encourages the use of alternatives f o r all commodities derived wholly or in part f r o m animals. Veganism remembers man's responsibilities to the earth and its resources a n d seeks to bring about a healthy soil and plant kingdom and a proper use of the materials of the earth. President: Dr. FREY E L L I S , Epsom, Surrey. Deputy-President: Mrs. E. B. SHRIGLEY, , Purley, Surrey. Vice-Presidents: Mrs. M U R I E L DRAKE, Dr. CATHERINE N I M M O , Miss MABEL S I M M O N S , Miss W I N I F R E D SIMMONS. Honorary Secretary: Mrs. EVA BATT, , Enfield, Middlesex. Honorary Treasurer: Dr. FREY E L L I S , Epsom, Surrey. Assistant Teasurer: CE SMITH, (to whom all subscriptions should b e sent), Epsom, Surrey. Committee: Mr. E . T . BANKS, Mr. H . T . BONNIE, Mrs. SERENA N . COLES, M r . JACK MCCLELLAND, M r . M . MCCULLOCH, M r s . E . B . SHRIGLEY, M r . SAM W O L F , M r . W . H . C . W R I G H T , B.SC., N . D . , D O , M . B . N . O . A . Vegan Distribution Secretary: Mrs. SERENA C O L E S , 3 Riddlesdown Avenue,

Purley, Surrey. M i n i m u m subscription, which includes " T h e V e g a n " , 15s. per annum (and 7s. 6d. for each additional member of one family at same Life residence); 7s. 6d. if age under 18; payable in January. Membership, £10 10s. Od.

THE JOURNAL

VEGAN

THE

VEGAN

SOCIETY

Editor: Mr. JACK SANDERSON, s, Upminster, Essex. Advertisements: H. H. GREAVES LTD., 106/110 Lordship Lane, London, S.E.22. Rates: Whole page—£10 0s. 0d.; Half page—£6 0s. 0d.; Quarter page—£3 10s. Od. Published quarterly: Annual subscription, 10s. post free; single copies, 2s. 6d. post free. Obtainable f r o m the Hon. Secretary. LITERATURE " T h e Reasons for Veganism." 4 page leaflet. Free. " Vegan Protein Nutrition." 12 page leaflet. Is. 3d. post free. " A H a n d b o o k of Practical Veganism." 24 pages with cover. 2s. 9d. post free. "Unnecessary Cruelties among F a r m Animals." 8 page leaflet. 6d. post free. " T h e Vegetarian and Vegan Food Guide." 2s. 6d. post free. " V e g a n s and Vivisection." 8 page leaflet. 6d. post free. All obtainable from the Hon. Secretary (cheques and postal orders m a d e out to " T h e Vegan Society ").

THE VEGAN Journal

oj the Vegan

Society

SUMMER, 1965

EDITORIAL The year 1965 is not only notable for the coming of age of the Vegan Society, but also as a year in which the International Vegetarian Union meets in England, and especially as the year in which the Hotel Sharuna was opened in London. Our committee member, Mr. Edward Banks, describes the opening ceremony on another page, when hundreds of vegetarians and vegans met hundreds of Indians and enjoyed some wonderful food and stimulating conversation and at the same time looked in the various rooms of the new premises. Since Mr. Banks and Mr. Walter Fliess of the Vegetarian Catering Association have assisted Mr. Ramesh Patel in planning the vegetarian catering we can be sure of excellent food expertly presented. Vegans will be given a sure welcome and their needs will be understood and catered for. Vegetarians and vegans visiting London from some distance will now have a place to stay where they will be catered for as they would wish, whilst Londoners and those in the Home Counties will have a meeting place where vegan and vegetarian needs (whether full meals or food to take away) can be met. Parties and socials are catered for, whilst nearby (nearly opposite) is the Indian Emporium specialising in health foods and all types of Indian produce which can be bought over the counter, delivered in the London area, or posted to any part of the world. The Sharuna Hotel and India Coffee House is two minutes from Tottenham Court Road Tube Station at 107 Great Russell Street, W.C.I (Tel.: LANgham 8997), and the Indian Emporium is at 8 Great Russell Street, W.C.I (Tel.: LANgham 3470). Both are exceptionally well situated for sightseeing, shopping, theatres, main-line stations and Underground lines, and already we have had many excellent reports of the food, comfort, service and atmosphere. The Sharuna is the only establishment of its kind in this country, offering completely traditional Indian foods and service

as well as British vegetarian and vegan food. We shall have more news of the Sharuna in our next issue. In the meantime, we hope that as many members as possible will pay a visit to this new hotel and restaurant, and that some may perhaps become " regulars." Vegan facilities will grow as we use them. Our warm good wishes go out to this venture, which is the first in a proposed new chain of such restaurants throughout London and the rest of Britain, while plans are already in hand for similar establishments in Europe and America. The opportunity (on July 11th) to see a veganic garden should not be missed, and you are advised to snap up any seat tickets that are left for the coach as quickly as possible (see notice). And then, go home and make your own garden veganic! Any younger people who fancy horticulture as a career would find this trip exceptionally interesting, and I would be pleased to put them in touch with those who have pioneered veganic methods who could arrange for a course of training. The Committee hope that as many vegans as possible will attend the I.V.U Congress which this year is being held in late August in England. This presents a unique opportunity of meeting leading vegetarians (young and old) from many other countries, and of putting the vegan point of view to an ever wider field. Bearing in mind the " Beauty Without Cruelty" Garden Party and the " Vegetarian Nutritional Research " Committee's A.G.M. (see separate notice), the coming months can be an exhilarating time of meeting and discussing with kindred spirits the problems and opportunities that lie ahead of forward-looking movements such as ours. J. SANDERSON. MRS. COLES We welcome Mrs. Serena Coles back as our Distribution Secretary. I am glad to know that she is feeling better. VEGAN

MEETINGS

JULY. On Sunday, July 11th (re-arranged date), a special visit to a veganic walled garden in Gloucestershire. Ring the Editor (Upminster 3846) to see if there are any vacant seats in the coach. Meet at the Planetarium (one minute from Baker Street Station, London) at 10.15 a.m. and bring own packed food for lunch and tea. OCTOBER. Twenty-first Anniversary Celebrations on Saturday and Sunday, October 30th and 31st (see separate notice). After the A.G.M. on the 30th, the President of the American Vegan Society, Mr. J. Dinshah, will speak on " A World to Win ". NOVEMBER. The Animals' Fair on November 26thâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;27th. 2

OTHER

MEETINGS

JUNE. On Sunday, June 27th, at 2.30 p.m. in the science room at the school, Stanborough Park, Garston, Watford, Herts, the A.G.M. of the Vegetarian Nutritional Research Society, followed about an hour later by a lecture on " Some Aspects of Vitamin B12 " by Dr. E. Lester Smith, F.R.S. JULY. On Sunday, July 4th, at 2 p.m., the annual Garden Party of Beauty Without Cruelty at Nettlestead, near Maidstone, Kent. Volunteers for the Vegan Stall (Food and Literature) required. Please contact Mrs. Batt. AUGUST. The International Vegetarian Union Congress is being held at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire, from August 27th to September 4th. Write to the Secretary, The Vegetarian Society, Bank Square, Wilmslow, Cheshire, for further particulars. OCTOBER. On Monday the 4th, WORLD DAY FOR ANIMALS meeting at the Scala Theatre, London. On Wednesday the 20th, B.W.C. Fashion Show at 2.45 and 6.45 p.m., at The Hotel Russell, W.C.I. REPORT

FROM

BOURNEMOUTH

At the Vegetarian Convention in Bournemouth Town Hall this year, the Vegan Society was represented by the Secretary and Mrs. Coles. Lord and Lady Dowding were unable to attend, but Beauty Without Cruelty gave a Fashion Display of nonanimal " fur " coats and other products, and many people took advantage of the cosmetic stall to restock with pure toiletries which do not use slaughterhouse products, or involve cruel exploitation. It was a most interesting and enjoyable occasion. The business was well and briskly conducted and comfortably sandwiched between social engagements. We were both hosts to and guests of the Mayor and Mayoress of Bournemouth, Alderman and Mrs. Mears (Mrs. Mears is an enthusiastic vegetarian), went for a drive in the New Forest, had tea with the Mayor and Mayoress of Christchurch, and had other opportunities for renewing social contacts, meeting old friends and making new ones. (We also enrolled two new members.) An item of special interest to vegans (for there are few of us who are ' not required to cater for lacto-vegetariansâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and " others ") concerned the attempts, unsuccessful so far, which are being made to persuade the Ministry concerned that battery eggs (or alternatively " free-range " eggs) should be made easily identifiable. The dishonest practice of offering un-"lioned" battery eggs with a verbal assurance of non-complicity is far too easy under the present hit-or-miss system. 3

Unfortunately, the weather was far from good and the drizzle probably kept a number of casual visitors at home, but Mrs. Isabel James's cookery demonstration was very well attended as usual. This year, the Brains Trust which followed included one vegan on the panel. E.B.

REPORT

FROM

EXETER

In a meeting arranged by the Exeter Vegetarian Food Reform Society, Mrs. Eva Batt gave a talk on " Beyond Vegetarianism " at the Social Centre for the Blind in Exeter on Thursday, March 25th. Mrs. Batt said that question time, which normally followed a lecture, is probably the most important and interesting to the audience, many of whom have brought along their problems. As these could rarely be dealt with fully in the usual way, she had based her talk on the twenty questions most frequently put to vegan speakers and she would try to answer them in full, and perhaps help those who were ready to take the next step. Typical questions included : â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " Why do vegans not use dairy foods?" " But surely we must have eggs?" " People have always drunk milk, dare they stop now?" " I s cows' milk not a ' n a t u r a l ' food?" " W h a t do you do about B, 2 ?" " Isn't the vegan diet starchy?" " What do you do about proteins?" " Is the vegan diet not more expensive than others?" " H o w can we recognise vegan foods?" " Where do vegans get their fats?" " What can we use instead of dairy produce?" " How do you manage on holidays, etc.?" " A r e there any animal-free soaps and cosmetics?" Etc., etc. The meeting was well attended, and great interest was shown in the samples of non-leather footwear our Secretary had taken along.

V.C.A.

GUIDE

Have you got the revised copy yet? one for your friends! Remember, it now information of use to vegansâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;where our in eating-places and holiday guest houses, recipes. 4

One for yourself and contains much useful needs are catered for etc., and many vegan

It has never happened before. It can never happen again!

The Vegan Society comes of age next autumn and a Special Week-End has been arranged to celebrate our

21st

ANNIVERSARY

On Saturday, October 30th, 1965 TWENTY-FIRST

ANNUAL

GENERAL

MEETING

A T THE ALLIANCE HALL, PALMER STREET, LONDON

Refreshments and Speakers .

On Sunday, October 31st GRAND

DINNER

AND

DANCE

CELEBRATION

A T THE CORA HOTEL, LONDON.

Tickets: 32/6d.

Members of B.V.Y.M. 27/6d.

It is hoped that all members within reach will attend one or' other (if not both) of these functions, and as the dinner accommodation is strictly limited members wishing to attend are advised to send their names (and a small deposit) to the Secretary as soon as possible. Later, any places still available will be offered to our vegetarian friends, many of whom have already expressed a wish to join our " once in a lifetime " festivities.

Some of the proprietors and guests at the opening ceremony. Left to right: Mr. Suresh Choksi, Mr. Colin Woodhead, H. E. Dr. Teelock, Mauratian Commissioner, Mr. Praful R. C. Patel, Mrs. Teelock, Mr. Neb, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce, London, and Mr. Ramesh Patel.

THE

SHARUNA

On Saturday, May 8th, several hundred guests attended the official opening of the Sharuna Hotel and India Coffee House at 107 Great Russell Street, Tottenham Court Road, by Dr. Jivraj Mehta, the High Commissioner for India. Present also were the High Commissioner for Ceylon, the Nepalese Ambassador, the Mayor of Camden, Lord Sorenson, and many others in public life. Well known in our vegan world, and well to the fore, were Eva and Alan Batt, Serena Coles and Jack Sanderson. Prominent vegetarians included Ruth Harrison, Dr. and Kathleen Keleny, Dr. Gordon Latto, Walter and Jennie Fliess, Monica Copinger, Mrs. and Miss Lightowler. Dr. J. Kristoff, the Hungarian food technologist, was also present. At the peak period of the reception, and the luncheon, crowds were so dense that any good friends whom I did not see will surely forgive me for not referring to them. The leading Indian vegetarian caterer, Mr. J. N. Yande, came over specially from Bombay, and the result was the finest display of vegetarian catering I have been privileged to see in Britain. Usually our Indian friends are rather short on salads, but the array on this occasion and the presentation were superb. I had the opportunity of seeing it all before the rooms were crowded, and so saw it in all its glory. Those who came later missed an eyeful, and I only hope the coloured photographs will do it justice. The decor of the restaurant is strikingly attractive, its principal features being the brass-bowl lighting—very Indian and unusual'—and an entire wall covered by a huge curtain in peacock blue. There are eighteen bedrooms—some double, but most single— with H. & C. and telephone in every room. All rooms are centrally heated and some have their own showers. Prices are moderate when you consider you are in the heart of London. Incidentally, there is a very pleasant lounge where residents can entertain their guests. Vegan catering will be simpler here than at most places, because eggs are not used, and in the new menu which will shortly be appearing, Mr. Ramesh Patel has agreed to mark with a " V " all dishes which are strictly vegan. Nut milk, Granogen, and ice cream made from nut cream will soon be available. On Monday I met Linden, my younger daughter, there for lunch, which we much enjoyed in the pleasant surroundings and friendly atmosphere. This marks a great advance in catering for the needs of vegans, and in a few months' time, when the first of a new range of entirely vegan health foods will be coming out, we can all begin to feel that this is progress indeed. EDWARD T . BANKS.

FOLK MEDICINE By H. S.

KRAMER

(our representative in Holland)

Of late I have been reading two booklets by D. C. Jarvis, M.D., named: Folk Medicine and Arthritis and Folk Medicine. In the second book something more is mentioned about Arthritis, but on the whole it is a continuation of the first. Dr. Jarvis is not a vegetarian and much less a vegan. Even though some facts are not pleasant to read, I have read the books with much interest and approval. The doctor makes statements which could well be inserted in a periodical on Vegetarianism, Nature-Cure or Anti-vivisection, which show that he is not such a great adversary of our view as one might suppose. My quotations will undoubtedly prove this. It is pleasantly affecting to read, for instance, how he makes experiments not on cows but with them, by which these creatures are not caused any harm and by which he learns much more in my opinion than by (disgusting) vivisection. Consequently, I am pleased to quote the following extracts: I.

(Second Book, page 110). " The third food my Vermont friends warned me against was milk as a beverage. Here, to check what 1 had been told I enlisted the aid of a dozen small children under five in addition to the twelve adults who were keeping careful records for me. Both these groups were keeping a daily food diary and urine reaction record. On the theory that little children are guided by natural instincts my small guinea-pigs were allowed to select what they wished from food placed on the table. Much to my surprise, they woidd not drink milk. This was a shock to me, because in prescribing a nutritional programme for a patient I always used milk as an anchor and built the rest of the prescription around it. These children, by their refusal, told me I was wrong. What they wanted and liked very much were sour drinks. Their favourite one was cranberry juice. When it was made from cranberries in the home they wanted it so sour that adults in the family would not take it. But I was curious as to why these children would not drink milk when they had a free choice. I engaged a farm girl to take a milk reaction with litmus paper at the afternoon milking of each cow in a herd of forty-five registered dairy cows, and under the supervision of the herd owner, she did so. Every week she gave me a written report, and from it I learned that milk as it comes from a healthy cow is weakly acid in reaction. Then I studied the reaction of pasteurizing, which is necessary 8

to make milk safe for human consumption. Under pasteurizing, I found milk changed from acid to alkaline. There was my answer. Because pasteurized milk was alkaline the children who were guided by their instincts refused to drink it, and these same instincts led them to seek sour acid drinks. Two mothers who were in the habit of taking their children on picnics in the summer did an experiment for me. On one occasion they took three different drinks for the children. One was the ' hayfield drink', used in Vermont for a good many years, which was simply our old friends vinegar and honey added to a glass of water. The second was lemonade, and the third was milk. The children were told that they could have any of the three, and all of them chose the vinegar and honey drink. After it was gone, they turned to the lemonade, drank that up, and would not touch the milk." This fact is self-explanatory, is it not? II.

(Second book, Chapter 7, page 49.) " If apple-cider vinegar produces the results observed in humans and animals, is there present an instinct for acid which we may have lost? I answered this question for myself by studying honey-bees, fowls, and animals, and as I have said earlier, I learned from them that it was possible to rediscover natural instincts and to comprehend nature's plan by which she intended to keep all her children in continued good health, free from sickness, and able to live the alloted span of life. Anyone who takes the trouble to learn this plan is inevitably brought to an understanding of the importance of body chemistry and physiology, and the need of safeguarding the body in order to keep it adjusted constantly to both the external and internal environments. We mustâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and I emphasise it againâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;learn not to rebel against nature, not to desert from the animal kingdom. We must accept nature's plan and stop trying to rearrange it according to our own desire ; we must be concerned with the food we eat, the liquid we drink, and the air we breathe, because all three influence our body chemistry and physiology, either favourably or unfavourably. We build and rebuild our body with elements, and so we should give them the consideration they deserve. Armed with this kind of understanding, we would shun fruits and vegetables sprayed with insecticides and become believers in organic farming. We would avoid refined foods, like white flour and white sugar, and seek natural foods. We would go to health stores as a source of natural foods. Part of our understanding would be that the daily food intake provided by nature is a natural high carbohydrate â&#x20AC;&#x201D; low animal protein intake, and so we would become more vegetarian and less meat-eaters." 9

III.

(Second book, page 55). " Sickness is not always caused primarily by harmful germs and viruses. It may be the result of an altered chemistry that creates in the body suitable soil for harmful germs and virus growth. An animal that has a normal body chemistry and physiology has very little to fear from harmful germs and viruses. Dairy cows in winter quarters are more likely to be sick than when they are on pasture and able to get acid vegetation. We have observed how the health of a herd can be improved by adding vinegar to the feed during the winter months. There is a marked reduction in the colds, influenza, pneumonia, and digestive tract troubles which otherwise might affect them." IV.

(Second book, page 101). " According to the Bible, God created man in His own image â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a perfect being. After the creation he was placed in a garden where fruits, berries, edible leaves and roots, and honey were provided as his food. These were all acid in reaction and rich in minerals. The body that was designed for these primitive conditions has been subjected to the pressures of an utterly indifferent environment in our time, but it contains within it still the ability to adjust itself, if we would only follow the original plan for daily food intake. If man fails to consume the needed acids and minerals, or processes his food so it is lacking in these elements he becomes sick eventually. He is maladjusted. Nature has established a wisely directed order for the benefit of man and beast, but in his ignorance man tries to rearrange things. Wild animals, who know better, follow the order and never try to rearrange it. We have to learn that we can live scientifically, yet in doing so follow nature's order." V.

(Second book, page 126). " If your breathing is less than the normal sixteen times a minute you should avoid wheat foods, wheat cereal, white sugar, muscle meat, and citrus fruits, because all these, as we have seen, increase the alkalinity of the blood, which in turn slows down the breathing rate in order to hold carbonic acid in the blood stream. Fruits, berries, edible leaves, edible roots, and honey are indicated as food because they are all acid in reaction before they enter your mouth. Their addition to the daily food intake will help you at once if you have a slower than normal breathing rate. You should follow through with the kind of biologic food selection we discussed in the previous chapter: rye or corn bread, fish and seafood instead of muscle meat, apples, grapes, and other cold country fruits instead of oranges and grapefruit (provided you live in the Northern part of America)." 10

VI.

(Second book, pages 175 and 178, 179). " Let me summarise then, why Vermont folk medicine prescribes apple-cider vinegar in arthritis. It is to bring about the disappearance of putrefaction in the intestinal tract. The odour of the bowel movement is due to skatole and indole, two substances formed in the course of putrefactive processes occurring within the intestine. If two teaspoonfuls of vinegar in a glass of water are taken at each meal the bowel odour will disappear in a month or two, showing that the putrefactive process in the intestine no longer takes place." My quotations so far are from the second book and 1 believe the last to be one of the most important. As a result of some recent articles of mine in the Dutch Vegetarian Messenger some lacto-vegetarians wrote to me to say that they were eating dairy products in order to provide themselves with the necessary vitamin B12, as they feared that their intestines could not synthesize this vitamin! It would have been far better if they had realised that it was their duty to regenerate the intestines by healthy feeding and living and by gradually abstaining from milk, etc.! Recently a seventy-one year old Jady wrote to me to say that as a consequence of my latest article, she had firmly decided to become a vegan again. During the years that she had formerly been one, she had felt strong and healthy. Later, however, owing to a slight complaint, she had consulted her doctor, who after examination, told her that she had a shortage of protein and advised her to take dairy products again and this she had done. She asked my opinion about the protein problem and I replied that if a doctor diagnoses such a shortage we must assume that he is right, as he is the expert and we are the laymen ! Butâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I addedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I can assure you, that most doctors here even without examination are convinced that people who eat neither flesh-meat nor dairy products do not get sufficient protein! This is of course sheer nonsense as Mr. Heron stated so well in his treatise ' Vegan Protein Nutrition '." I will again quote Dr. Jarvis: (First book, page 37). " If a catarrhal discharge is present in your breathing tract, if you are subject to frequent head colds, occasional bronchitis attacks, or influenza; or if you have sinus trouble or sometimes pneumonia, then you should reappraise your daily intake of protein food. You can render your body susceptible to these various sicknesses any time you eat, from day to day, a high protein â&#x20AC;&#x201D;low vegetable and fruit diet. Take an illustration from the garden. In growing plants, one has to avoid the addition of too much nitrogen to the soil; too much nitrogen increases the amount of plant disease in the garden. In the human body protein food is the source of nitrogen. 11

Too much protein food leads to human sickness as well as to plant and animal sickness." (First book, page 39): "As you reach the age of forty you will need to review your daily food intake. In order to prevent undesirable effects on the body as you become physically less active, the protein intake shoidd be lessened." I have greatly appreciated Dr. Jarvis's books, which indeed contain " A doctor's bagful of health secrets " (as is written on the front page of Folk Medicine). They are available at the very low price of 2/6d. and I can strongly recommend my readers to buy them. In the meantime, I have written to him to express my appreciation, to discuss some other problems and to give him my views on veganism. I hope to write about his reaction later. LETTERS TO M.P.s OR THE PRESS Many members would like to write to their M.P. or to the editor of a paper but have difficulty in putting it together. The following letter was recently sent by one of our members and may be of help to other members in composing theirs. The Rt. Hon. Iain Macleod, M.P., House of Commons, Westminster. Dear Mr. Macleod, ^ ^^^ I called at the House yesterday in the hope of seeing you for a few minutes, concerning the Littlewood Report. I am deeply concerned at the inadequacy of this as it appears to make no recommendations for drastically reducing the number of animal experiments. I want to urge you to press for the general adoption of other kinds of research not involving the use of animals. No doubt you are aware of the valuable research work done by the late gynaecologist Lawson Tait and the success he achieved in the treatment of complaints particular to women. A memorial Trust Fund has been set up in his memory to encourage research along the lines he valued and found so rewarding to mankind. Already, two sizeable sums have been donated to research workers for outstanding achievements in the field of medicine. If you are not fully acquainted with the facts, I pray you will make it your business to look fully into this aspect of healing before endorsing any programme which includes the use of live animals, whatever degree of suffering may be involved. In my opinion, cruelty to the helpless can only degrade mankind, and surely the Thalidomide tragedy has proved beyond all doubt the danger to man of relying on the results of animal tests

Yours sincerely,

COMMODITY A N D OTHER NEWS By EVA BATT

Leather—Natural and Synthetic An extract from The Shoe and Leather News: — " New beef-fattening system will affect leather. New methods of raising livestock are likely to have an important impact on the leather industry. Instead of grazing, a method rapidly being adopted is to keep cattle permanently penned in sheds where they are given food without having to seek it. For beef cattle, barley is the main feed. The barley-fed beast matures more quickly, but does not grow so large. Significant differences are: — Traditional steer: Continues to grow for eighteen to twenty-four months to give a profitable foodstuff beef conversion ratio, up to a live weight of about 1,100 lbs. Barley-fed steer: Matures to full practicable size, about 900 lbs., in ten to twelve months. Main differences as far as the hide is concerned are: Softer ' handle ' in the finished leather. Some leathers of the kind have almost the feeling of calf, tanners say. Clean grain. Because the cattle are not in fields, with risk of barbed wire scratches and similar damage, the grain surface is usually completely unmarked. Indicative of the extent of the new method is a barley-beef factory now being built at Old Newton, Suffolk, where it is hoped to raise 10,000 calves a year." As we see it, there is likely to be a glut of fine-quality, home-produced, broiler-raised leather in the very near future, which may sadly affect the growth of the synthetic leather business, as the latter will then be at an economic disadvantage. THERE WILL BE ALL THE MORE REASON THEREFORE FOR US TO SEARCH FOR HUMANELY-PRODUCED FOOTWEAR. Quox. This shoe upper material from the Courtaulds group has been tested for wear and comfort by quite a few manufacturers over the last few years and a number of firms are expected to be showing samples of autumn models to the trade this month. Mothers will be pleased to know that Quox shoes for babies will be in all branches of Mothercare shops from Whitsun. So now is the time to remind our local shops that we are interested in these good quality non-leather shoes. 13

Corfam. Messrs. H. & H. Rayne of London are making ladies' fashion shoes with " patent finish " Corfam uppers. At the moment supplies are limited. The following shops have Corfam shoes (with leather soles) from time to time: â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Manfield of Oxford St., London ; Buchanan St., Glasgow ; New St., Birmingham ; and Above Bar St., Southampton. Saxone of Oxford St., London. Fortnum & Mason of Piccadilly, London. Hector Powe of Regent St. and Queen Victoria St., London. Selfridges of Oxford St., London. John Lewis of Oxford St., London. Peter Jones of Sloane Square, London. H. E. Randall of Piccadilly, Regent St., Broad St. and Poultry, London. J. Collinson of Bold St., Liverpool. T. Hinde of Liverpool. G. H. Lee of Liverpool. J. Lloyd of Whitechapel, Manchester. J. Edwards of Deansgate, Manchester. Edward Green shoes from Milne & Munro, Aberdeen ; French, Southampton ; and Walker, Huddersfield. Joshua Taylor of Sidney St., Cambridge. John Baird of Market St., Leicester. Bainbridge of Market St., Newcastle. J. Plant of Sheffield and Derby. J. Randall of Leamington. And the following Manfield branches: Strand, W.C.2 ; East St., Brighton ; Clarence St., Kingston-on-Thames ; Grainger St., Newcastle-on-Tyne ; Long Row, Nottingham ; Commercial St., Leeds ; Deansgate, Manchester ; and King St., St. Helens, Jersey. Messrs. Agua Chemical Inc. of U.S.A. are developing a " breathable " synthetic leather which will have a woven or knitted cotton backing. They hope to have it ready for shoe manufacturers in a few months. Current Dunlop summer styles, without leather: Peewit, Puffin, Teal, Toucan, Widgeon, Jackdaw, Woodlark, Marlet, Kinglet, Bittern, Jimsoll sneakers, and a flattie shoe in a snakeskin pattern. (Apparently Dunlop could not find an appropriate bird name for this one!) Elcho Footwear is particularly suitable for the person with a broad foot who requires a low-priced shoe with very little heel and a cushion sole. The non-leather styles all have either Norzone or velvet uppers. In the Elcho " Cushionette " range : â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Single-eyelet tie shoe in Black, Light Brown or Olive Green Norzone, 15/lid. 14

This is also made with an elasticated apron in place of the laces. Black, Brown, Green, 1 5 / l i d . A third variation has a fringed tongue and a raised front seam. Also 1 5 / l i d . In the " Cushionaire" range: Wide-fitting shoe in Black Velvet or Brown Norzone. Raised front seam, single-eyelet tie. Also a velvet ballerina casual in black, only 9 / l i d . Generally available. Messrs. R. Roberts & Son, Bridge St., Warrington, stock a range of ladies' shoes without animal leather and will be glad to show these to any member able to call. Another member writes to say that she has found good nonleather shoes at Wilford's on Ball Hill, Coventry. A choice of heel heights are available, she tells us. Members living in the district might like to call there. We have not yet seen these shoes. Although the Co-operative Societies are not yet using Corfam for ready-made shoes, a branch of the London Co-operative (78-102 The Broadway, E.15) have offered to make up individual pairs for men to order at ÂŁ5 0s. Od. a pair. This is a very interesting development and members still having difficulty might contact their local branch as this service may well be generally available. Or, if you live near enough, call in at the Burnt Oak Store where the manager will take particulars of size, fitting and style required. A few of the extra hard-wearing lined plastic Vyllar boots and shoes from France will be in the shops again this autumn. They are well worth looking forâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;try branches of Freeman, Hardy & Willis, True Form, Character Shoes, Lewis's in the Midlands, Woolworths, etc. Particularly recommended are the bootees for children with warm lining and nylon fur cuffs. Various colours, some with zip front. Look for the name Vyllar on every sole. For ladies there are five non-leather shoe styles, all for hard wear, with tie fronts, low heels and costing under 20/- per pair. Summer Shoes from Pirelli Gio, Sienna, Elba, Nesta, Tilly, Sestri and Verona in White only. All low-heeled casual styles. Note: Models Sestri and Verona are available in other colours, but these and the " Tern " style have a suede panel. Freeman, Hardy & Willis. Classic, 3 9 / l i d .

For men: Carousel, 3 6 / l i d . ;

Imperial Chemical Industries have recently developed an " entirely new " synthetic leather for uppers. We are told that " an announcement will be made at the conclusion of trials now being conducted." But there is no mention of when this is likely to be. 15

One of our members has ascertained that Rawlplug Plastic Wood is completely free of any animal matter. Some of you were asking about the other ingredients used in plastic woods. A sideline on honey Extract from " To-day's Food " published in America. (Not a vegan magazine.) Q. " Honey is believed to be a much better sweetener than sugar; is this due to the fact that it contains more minerals?" A. " . . . There are practically no extra vitamins or minerals worth mentioning in honey. . . ." We wonder how many of our readers are on a mucusless diet? I tried it and found it fine while I was doing only office work, but when I did some manual labour I got so hungry I added bread, beans, nuts and potatoes again. One member who has been experimenting would like to correspond with others and compare notes. He is John Guy of 39 Offington Avenue, Worthing, Sussex.

PASS THE PILL, PLEASE Extract from "A Case for Eating Food " B y H . JAY DINSHAH,

President of the American

Vegan

Society

As a born vegetarian 1 am appalled by the avalanche of glib propaganda for " miraculous food supplements," many of which are derived from the most questionable of sources. Just read the advertising for the unmitigated swill that is sold, at fancy prices, in the name of " N a t u r e " : honey-flavoured vitamin C pills, anti-anaemia tablets, tablets for any letter in .the alphabet; " n a t u r a l " laxative; and, oh! the vitaminâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;liquid, tablet, powdered, etc., protein tablets, amino acid tablets, bone meal and marrow tablets (touted as a NATURAL source of Calcium!); royal jelly (a 100% insect stuff secreted by the glands of the worker bees). Some articles are slanted to entice the unwitting away from truly natural nutrition to a life of gulping down high-priced extracts, pills, potions, and phoney health food supplements. The truth is that for any normal person, living on a truly balanced diet, food supplements are about as necessary as a third eyeball. When the pill-pushers invent some new " supplement," they bamboozle us into thinking we cannot possibly find a natural, 16

properly balanced diet in the vegetable kingdom. They trot out their creaking knight in squeaking armour to save us ; " Here is the very thing to save you from the dungeon of malnutrition —use our Vita-Bio-Lacto-Bacto-Ova-Bova-Feca-Leci-Ghole-Gorgonzola tablets, and all will be well! " Including their wallets which will be well-fed, fat and happy! Well, I just won't buy that story. I emphatically deny that animal-free food is lacking in any raw material required to promote and sustain health and wellbeing. Vegan food certainly is lacking in cruelty and slaughter ; it in%'olves none of the Karmic consequences of eating murdered food ; but short of vitamins or minerals? Nay, 1 say, not so. Consider the cow, whose milk we are supposed to need to fend off " Calcium Starvation." In food, the cow is vegan, using no animal food but her own mother's milk, from birth. Yet this cow gets so much Calcium in her daily diet (of green vegetation), that she has plenty to spare for her milk for her calf. Why settle for second-hand food? Go right to the real source—the clean leafy green vegetables, the fruits and the nuts. We can thus avoid the animal matter and animal diseases, and spare so much animal and human suffering. We need not worry about " deficiencies" if we make good use of the wonderful foods Nature has given us. We need not worry about " protein deficiency," if we make use of the delicious legumes-peas, beans, lentils and nuts. Use only 100% wholewheat flour: white flour may make a good wallpaper paste, but it is fit food for neither hog nor human, regardless of what junk is dumped into it to " enrich " or " reconstitute " it. Inspect your food before buying. Pass up any dubious ingredients, " softeners " preservatives, etc. Make good use of salads, with raw, grated vegetables, and fruits. Investigate, inquire, experiment. But do not eat anything but real food—forget those pills and such junk. If some item is lacking in your diet, what is indicated is not a novel way of obtaining it, but rather a natural way—the increase of your daily consumption of foods known to contain the needed item. Before being taken in by the pill-pushers, Stop! Think! What normal non-animal food will give you the required nutritive material in the natural way? I don't have to tell you the rest. For example, in a country such as the U.S.A., with citrus fruits available twelve months of the year, it is an utter disgrace that anyone (much less a vegetarian), should think he has to take a " vitamin C tablet." Total vegetarianism isn't some kind of cross to be borne, a self-imposed burden, or a way of life practised only by second-class misfits and hypochondriacs. Let's prove that we believe in what we preach, and practise it as well. Animal-free food is a complete food system, with no need for quackish supplementation from the drug houses or the slaughterhouses, designed to make up for nutritional deficiencies no one need have. Let the meat-eaters keep making the pill and drug 17

makers rich ; we vegetarians and vegans can get along nicely without such outside " help " and assistance. (Adapted from The Case for Eating Food). Published by the American Vegan Society, Malaga, New Jersey (08328), U.S.A. (Whilst agreeing with the main thesis, I do feel that there is sometimes a case for the use of certain food supplementsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; EDITOR.)

SUMMER MENUS (Quantities for four) By KATHLEEN KELENY

(of Coombe Lodge Vegetarian Guest House, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucester.) LUNCHEON Grapefruit and Rosemary Squash Cucumber and Cashew Cheese Green and Tomato Salad Melon and Walnut Delight DINNER Cucumber Cocktail Sticks Onion Tart, Spinach and Turnips Bay Leaf Mould

Grapefruit and Rosemary Squash 2 grapefruit 2 sprigs rosemary

2 oz. brown sugar H pints water

Cut grapefruit in half and squeeze the juice out. Well wash grapefruit skins and chop and put into a jug containing the water. Well wash rosemary and put it also in jug and leave for twenty-four hours, then strain and add juice and sugar and stir well. Cucumber and Cashew Cheese 1 large Bramley seedling apple

i Lb. grated cashew kernels 4 inches of cucumber

Grate the apple and cucumber with a two-way Bircher Benner grater and mix with grated cashew kernels and pound well together into a square block with butter pats, then cut into four slices and serve each in centre of salad. 18

Green and Tomato Salad 1 large lettuce 6 tomatoes 4 sprigs of apple mint

12 dandelion leaves £ lemon 1 tablespoon soya oil

Wash lettuce and put three of the largest leaves on each plate. Cut tomatoes in half and put a half tomato on each leaf. Chop up rest of lettuce, finely chop the dandelion leaves and remove mint leaves from the stalks and put them through a pars-mint machine and mix with chopped lettuce and dandelion leaves. Add a little lemon juice and oil and mix well together and put round the nut cheese. Melon and Walnut Delight 1 melon

4 oz. ground walnuts

Cut melon into slices and remove seeds and peel and chop into four fruit dishes Sprinkle with ground walnuts. Cucumber Cocktail Sticks 12 cocktail sticks i cucumber

12 chunks of pineapple 12 walnuit halves

Cut cucumber lengthwise, then cut one half into four and put a piece on each of four plates (green skin uppermost). Cut balance of cucumber into twelve chunks then put each cocktail stick into a walnut, chunk of pineapple and cucumber and press four into each piece of cucumber. Onion Tart, Spinach and Turnips i lb. onions 1 lb. spinach 1 lb. turnips

± lb. ALlinson's cake flour 4 oz. Mapletons Nutter 1 teaspoon Barmene

Cook spinach and turnips until soft. Chop onions and fry in one ounce Nutter with Barmene till golden brown. Mix the three ounces Nutter with flour, add three ounces water, mix well, roll out to size of a flan case, then put in flan case, and onions on top and bake for fifteen minutes in the oven at 400°. Bay Leaf Mould 6 fresh bay leaves 2 tablespoons almond nut cream 3 oz. Barbados sugar

1 pint boiling water 2 teaspoons powdered Agar Agar 12 strawberries

Boil water with the bay leaves in for five minutes. Remove bay leaves, then add almond cream and sugar, stir well till cream is dissolved then sprinkle agar on the top and simmer for one minute then pour into four fruit dishes. Decorate with strawberries when set. 19'

NOSTALGIA A N D NAUSEA B y EVA BATT

(Some outstanding memories of a few mid-winter weeks among the islands of the Caribbean)

spent

Masses of brilliant colour, the perfume of spice trees, dancing under the stars, the expansive luxury of American tourist hotels, the happy, friendly people (those who have enough to eat anyway), sugar, pineapple and banana plantations, breadfruit trees, coconut palms, cacti, lazing in the sun, eating too much, bougainvillaea, black boys diving for coins, gift shops piled high with jewellery, duty-free whisky, French perfumes and tobacco, moonlight on a millpond of a sea and . . . . Live chickens hanging by their feet for hours in stinking native markets, complete absence of hygiene in non-tourist spots, (perhaps " indescribable filth " would be more apt), a great deal of poverty, a dead rat in a gutter, a mangy dog with a hole in its head, and Shell Oil and Coco Cola signs ad nauseam. Of these islands, Rcsita Forbes, in the introduction to her book Island in the Sun wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " Columbus discovered the West Indies in 1492. He instituted slavery. He introduced sugar. By these three actions, he perfected a design for living which tortured three centuries. France, Holland and England fought imperial Spain for the spoils of the Caribbean. Piracy organised its own republic The fearful ' Brethren of the Coast' under the Black Flag changed the face of Nations. West Indian sugar has a dark background of slavery, revolt murder and tragic frustration." And every visit to the islands reveals fresh evidence of past (and sometimes present) indignities and exploitations of its people. Even a casual dip into the bloody history of the colonisation of these islands will reveal our part in the piracy, pillage, and plunder suffered by the original inhabitants ; whole sections of whom, like the Carib Indians, have been wiped out. Then perhaps, the arrogance too often displayed by visiting Europeans might be replaced by a more suitable attitude of humility. Although the approaches to the sun islands from the sea are so similar, life for the inhabitants may range from blissful content on one to hunger and much hardship for most of them on another. On most, the luxury, poverty, beauty and filth are so intermingled that one's first impressions are apt to be hazy from the constant switchbacking from one extreme to the other. Offshore, however, there is only the exquisite sense of peace which comes with a warm, still, starry night on a quiet, barely rippling sea and the knowledge that tomorrow and the day after, will be as warm and sunny as yesterday and the day before, and that the perfume of spice trees, the beauty of hibiscus, mimosa, 20

poinsettias and many other exotic blooms, will be there to delight us again on another island tomorrow. While paw-paws, breadfruit, bananas, pineapples, citrus fruits, melons and avocados make the Caribbean islands a paradise for vegetarians. . . . . Then dinner is served and a few hundred charming people people on holiday start to devour their pate de foie gras, roast pork, sweetbreads, escallop of veal, beef strogonoff, lamb cutlets, calves' brains, chicken livers, etc., oblivious of the hungry masses a few miles away on land. I was very much distressed by the amount of waste, for large quantities of what is generally known as good food is thrown overboard every day. For those who like maps, our trip took us from Southampton, past France, Spain and Portugal to the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco. Then due west to Nassau in the Bahamas, on to Florida where we landed at the Everglades and went by coach to Miami, back through the Bahamas and due south passing between Haiti and Cuba to Colon on the Panama Canal. This was the most southerly point of the trip, less than twelve degrees from the equator. Then east to the island of Curacao and La Guarina in Venezuela, overland to Caracas, the capital, on to Trinidad and gradually northwards through the many islands of the West Indies. We called at Granada, Barbados and Martinique in the Windward Islands group and sailed northwest past the Leeward Islands to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Then a call at Madeira and lastly due north and on to Southampton via the Bay of Biscay — poorer, browner (and heavier!) than when we left less than six weeks before. How does a vegan fare on a liner for over five weeks? Well, in the first place I took the precaution, as usual, of letting the chief steward know well beforehand the foods I would like and the ones vegans do not eat. Every effort was made to- meet my requests. Of course, my " special " meals were simplicity itself, which caused considerable concern to all but myself. The Cunard Company could not have been more helpful, laying on boxes of avocado pears because I happened to say that I was fond of them. So sure were they that I was " not eating enough " that when we docked in American waters it was suggested that I call at some Health Food Stores and order anything I wished —which I did! SOME IMPRESSIONS OF OUR PORTS OF CALL

Las Palmas—four days and 1,526 miles from home. 1 have given my first impressions of this and several other places in earlier articles, and I will only say now that second and third visits have not changed the views I expressed then. During the whole of the journey we saw very few horses and only one cat. This was to be expected, but it is surprising how much one misses such everyday things. Goats are fairly common and 21

in some places wild boars are domesticated and kept for food. Also cows, but these are never seen as they are kept in backyard sheds for land is too precious to be given over to grazing. It seemed very cruel to us the first time we were there (it is no less cruel now) but since then intensive animal farming has been adopted here. Not only cattle, but vast numbers of hens and pigs are kept in close confinement all their lives in England now â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to our everlasting shame. After leaving Las Palmas we were eight days at sea. I have been asked: " What do you find to do? " Well, first I just thoroughly enjoyed being spoiled (there were around 550 passengers and something like 650 crew and stewards on this trip). Should one be so inclined, meals could be made to occupy most of the day; breakfast of one kind or another lasted from 7 until 11, followed by a mid-morning snack (brought to you wherever you are), lunch in the dining room or on deck is soon followed by afternoon tea (again brought to you) then dinner (fills a couple of hours for some) and supper from 11 until 1 a.m. For those who are still hungry (!) coffee and sandwiches can be had in the cabin all night, and a fresh bowl of fruit was put in my cabin every day. To help pass the time there was a well-appointed gymnasium, three shops, three cinemas, three hairdressers, two swimming pools, two ballrooms and a night club. By the time one has sampled a few of these, attended the dancing class, done a spot of sunbathing, played some quoits, shuffleboard or table tennis and entered some of the various races and competitions it is time to put the smalls through the launderette and get ready for dinner and dancing. Life is all go! At such times one's chief concern may well be whether to iron the shirts or shampoo one's hair. I was always conscious of these false values, but cut off from the rest of the world, it is far too easy to forget for a time the troubles of the real world outside. Apart from doing a little subtle progaganda on other travellers there is little one can do except talk and plan future activities (and scribble articles for the Veganl). A shocking fact which emerged during one such conversation was that many of these wealthy and often charming people look upon intensive animal farming as a blessing to mankind and the only solution to the problem of world hunger! I hope a few of them are better informed now, but it is doubtful if anything I said will cause them to do much more than think about it for a few minutes. January 27thâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;3,330 miles later. Nassau, capital city of the Bahamas on the little island of New Providence, is surrounded by the Gulf Stream, and that is just how it feels. Horses with their ears poking through gay 22

little straw hats draw fringed surreys through Bay Street and are a great attraction to visitors. Nassau has one of the largest and most colourful straw markets I have seen where you can watch your selected hat or basket being trimmed while you wait by the plumpest, jolliest matrons whose voluminous skirts half-hide at least one peeping black cherub. It has a British atmosphere, which is another way of saying that the natives all appear to be reasonably well fed and contented. A fairly idyllic place, but although the sand is soft, white and warm, all the beaches seem to be owned by hotels. The only natives one sees there are hotel staff. There may be public beaches such as we enjoy but we saw none. This applies to many other places. January 28thâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Miami, Florida. A village fifty years ago, Miami is now the largest city in the Southern States of the U.S.A. Reclaimed from the swamps, mosquitoes and alligators, it is built up on causeways and the general air of opulence here is quite overpowering. Everything in the way of shops is represented from Saks to Woolworths, and there are several excellent Health Food Shops. Also, as in New Orelans, all kinds of ornaments " decorated " with stuffed baby crocodiles go cheek by jowl with Cola adverts in neon a mile wide (or so they seem). I have written before about the baby reptiles on tourist mementos in the Southern States ; there are so many one cannot forget them for a moment. The outstanding sights are the wild life jungles, as near natural as they can be made and each needing a whole day to see. The Parrot Jungle, The Monkey Jungle, Flamingo Park, the Alligator and snake farms (we were assured that these did not supply the baby crocs for the gift shops, but I wonder? In any case we did not go to see them) and above all the Seaquarium. Downtown Miami is the perfect place for a shopping spree, but on the whole just a bit too big, beautiful, brassy, blatant, brilliant and bustling for anyone not used to it I should think. We haunted the shoe shops looking for anything new in the way of good synthetic leathers. We bought some Corfam shoes but not for me as they were lined with leather as over here. All I have said before about drug store food, etc., in New Orleans applies equally to Miami and other American cities. Naturally, everyone on the ship (with the exception of Alan and Eva Batt of course) had been vaccinated before leaving England, knowing, they assured us, that they could not land in America without a recent certificate to that effect. But, as before, we were treated most courteously by the officials there who gave us the usual form and hoped we would enjoy our visit. 23

Currency whirl Fortunately for me there are very few places where American dollars are not acceptable which saves a great deal of wear and tear on this little brain (which is certainly not noted for speed), especially when every other day one is using different currency. I wish I had realised this on my first visit to these parts. This time we should have needed to change our money from Sterling to Pesetas, back to Sterling, to American dollars, to West Indian dollars, to Bolivars, to Dutch florins, back to West Indian dollars, to French francs, back to American dollars, to Escudos and back to Sterling. January 31st, Kingston, Jamaicaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;100 miles south of Cuba. I have already given my impressions of Montego Bay, Jamaica, which is a beautiful tourist spot and far from the capital and port of Kingston, in every respect. The native market, so colourful on the picture post-cards, stank so that we were unable to stay in it more than a couple of minutes. The sights defy description. Chickens hanging by their feet, some dead, some alive, fish swarming with flies; old, old women shelling peas into dirty aprons ; and the ground covered with stale vegetables and bloody mud. Normally, I would have been fascinated by the unusual vegetables but these I found unattractive and I was not tempted to try any. Possibly it was the surroundings which put me off. However, on this visit I did have a drink of cane syrup squeezed out of the sugar cane while we waited, by a machine like a cross between a barrel organ and a grubby old mangle which was standing in the roadside. Cane syrup is not over-sweet as I had imagined, but a very pleasant drink. My companions were rather put off by the obvious lack of hygiene, but I had to try it This being my birthday, there was much jollification on board that evening as we steamed away and some of the tinned vegetarian " roast beef " bought in Miami was tried out at the celebration dinner party. Actually it was quite tasty but goodness knows what it contained in the way of chemical additives and dyes (probably " goodness " had nothing to do with it). By the way, this was the only occasion when the chef let me down, he sent up real turtle soup! His explanation later was that he thought I would like "something very special" for my guests! I went very cautiously indeed after this and stayed on salads, nuts, fruit, jacket potatoes and delicious avocado pears for days. He got quite worried that I was not giving him any more recipes to make up for me. February 3rdâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Colon for Panama City. What a disappointment! To begin with the American influence does not really extend beyond the fenced-in Canal Zone and so one has even greater contrasts of luxury and squalor than 24

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usual. And so hot! We were advised the night before landing not to wear nylon shirts or underwear when on land. Can you imagine the scurry around to find any other sort at such short notice? We were fortunate to see a ship go through Gatun Lock on the Canal just as the light was fading. We were told that only three ships afloat today cannot get through these locks. The two Queens and the new French liner, La France. The widest ship ever to go through was a U.S. warship two years ago on manoeuvres and there was only mine inches to spare! This must have been a very exciting occasion for the engineers. I had never seen the Pacific Ocean so, of course, we paid it a visit as we were so near. I found it larger, wetter, cleaner, cooler and infinitely more attractive than Panama City. All Panamania, as elsewhere, is sprinkled with Shell Oil and Coca Cola signs like " Coca Cola le da Mucho Mas." February 5th—Curacao, chief island in the Netherlands West Indies So fresh-looking and clean after Panama! Very cosmopolitan ; in one street shops of fifty different nations display luxuries from all part of the world. The famous pontoon bridge across the sea was opening just as we arrived, a fine sight with its scarlet buoys—it offered a fine opportunity for picture taking. Curacao tempts one to snap all the time, it has so many attractive features, like the roofs which are all different shades of pink, and always edged with white tiles. Seen from a hill, Willemstad, the capital, looks like a toy town. Yet Curacao has the second largest oil refinery in the world, due, presumably to its close proximity to Venezuela, and farmers bring fruit and vegetables .from Venezuela to the island which they sell from their boats. A floating market in fact. Another of the many unusual and colourful scenes for the snap-happy. I had got used to large vegetables by this time but these were enormous! Tomatoes like grapefruit and 12-inch bananas were quite common. You can imagine what the water melons were like! February 6th—7,000 odd miles from home. Landed at La Guarina, Venezuela, and by coach to Caracas, the capital of the republic. Caracas was a delightful surprise as I had not expected anything from Venezuela in spite of all its oil. We learned that Maracaibo alone, the second largest city, produces two million barrels of oil a day from hundreds of wells in one lake there. I just cannot think in such figures, but it does seem that whoever wrote the local guide book got over-enthusiastic with his noughts. But there is no doubting the beauty of Caracas itself, nestling as it does up in the Avila mountains. The hills are well wooded and the air clean and clear up there. Architecturally, University 26

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P hi

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City alone provides many sources of interest in its 400 acres of fine buildings. Some, such as the Aula Magna (Great Hall) and the Library are among the most modern in this part of the world and well worth a visit. I hope to go back one day and spend more time there. The 174 acres of botanical gardens form a serene oasis in the centre of an otherwise busy city. In my crowded visit I just managed to include a two-mile trip in a cable car up Mount Avila (Teleferico Del Avila). This was my first experience of being hauled up into the clouds (7,000 feet) on a piece of wire rope, and I was not at all Teassured by the remark of another passenger halfway up that, " Most of these cars have two ropes, in case one should fail. I wonder why this has only one?" However the view of Caracas from above through gaps in drifting white clouds more than compensated for the slight attack of " nerves " (to which I would never have admitted at the time). I must admit that the name Simon Bolivar was, until very recently, just something from school days which I had all but forgotten, but no one in Venezuela is allowed to forget him for one minute. Reminders of their deliverer are everywhere not only in Bolivar Square, Bolivar Hall, Bolivar Monument, Bolivar Centre and Bolivar Street, but even the currency is in Bolivars (not to mention the most popular cigar). I have not seen so much apparent reverence for anyone, anywhere. In the square beside his monument stands a policeman, just in case anyone should be so disrespectful as to pass the spot minus his jacket! A n d remember it is 90째 odd in the shade. Probably his most lasting memorial is the Simon Bolivar Centre which, built at a cost of 180 million American dollars contains just about everything as it is like a town in a city. The National Pantheon was . built by General Guzman Blanco, President of the Republic in 1874. This National Monument was dedicated as a shrine for all illustrious Venezuelans and it is here that the remains of Liberator Simon Bolivar now rest in a sarcophagus adorned with gold and precious stones. (To be

continued)

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