RMS Caronia is due to arrive at Málaga at approximately 12.30 mid-day on Tuesday, 21 March, and will lie at anchor.
Round Africa Souvenir Book Cover
Málaga
THIS beautiful Andalusian city (250,000 inhabitants) surrounded by lovely countryside, on the shores of the
Mediterranean, had an illustrious origin, of which, however, few traces remain today. It was successively Phoenician,
Greek and Roman.
It attained its historic importance during the Middle Ages, when immediately after the fall of the Western Caliphate
the Kingdom of Málaga was created under the suzerainty of that of Granada. Ferdinand and Isabella conquered it
in 1487.
Later, the town witnessed the upraising of the Moriscos, or batptised Moors, and it suffered on several occasions
sieges and bombardments. It was also damaged during 1931-1936, but the reconstruction work, started in 1939, soon gave
back to Málaga its charming and unusual aspect.
Málaga's chief attraction is, above everything else, its marvellous climate, its dazzling light, and its typical
Southern fascination. The climate of Málaga is truly privileged. No other European town enjoys such a mild and
even temperature in winter (the mean temperature is 58.5°F, and it is pleasant the whole year round.
The flowers of Málaga help to give to the town its unmistakable personality. All kinds of Andalusian flowers
thrive there as well as many tropical and a considerable number of northern species.
Málaga has not only the distinctive charm of a typically Andalusian town but also a refined worldly elegance.
Its genuineness at once captivates all visitors that come to this town of radiant light.
Its temperate climate, its magnificent sunshine, the blending of the perfume of its flowers and of the sea, all give
the town a singular attraction, and it fully deserves the description of “Beautiful Málaga” that
is usually applied to it in Spain.
Málaga Cathedral
Its exceptional emplacement and climate have the complement of many monuments of singular interest, first among which
stands the Cathedral. It is a beautiful example of the best period of the Spanish Renaisance. Its construction was
accorded by the Chapter in 1528.
The plans are held to be by Enrique de Egas and Diego de Silva. Work started and the temple was partially consecrated
in 1588, when it replaced as a church the former Mosque-Cathedral.
Work then was suspended, to be started afresh in the 18th century following new plans due to José de Bada. The
long time taken to complete the building has left in it traces of different styles, but the whole is harmonious.
Málaga has other beautiful buildings, including the Episcopal Palace, which was burnt in 1931 but is now
restored, the Casa del Consulado, the Municipal Palace, and the 16th century palace of Condes de Buenavista.
The great importance of Málaga under Moorish rule is well evidenced by the Alcazazba, an ancient 11th century
Moorish fortress, which was joined to the Gibralfaro Castle, another Moorish fortress, from whose towers and walls a
magnificent view of the town, the harbour, the plain and the coast can be enjoyed.
Wednesday
22 March 1950
Arrival at Gibraltar
RMS Caronia is due to arrive at Gibraltar at approximately 9.00am on Wednesday, 22 March, and will lie at anchor.
The “Caronia” will set sail from Gibraltar promptly at 3.00pm the same day for Lisbon.
Rock of Gibraltar
Gibraltar is an isolated mass of rock in South-West Spain, rising to an altitude of 1,408 feet, three miles in length
and three-quarters of a mile in average breadth. Its western side is washed by the Bay of Gibraltar, called also the
Bay of Algeciras.
On this same side at the foot of the rock, is the town of Gibraltar, which consists of two parts. The South Town, above
the dockyard, and the North Town, which has narrow streets and is inhabited by a cosmopolitan population of British,
Spaniards and Moors.
Gibraltar has been a free port since its capture by the British, was for a time one of the chief commercial emporiums
of the Mediterranean, and is an important coaling station. Since 1842 it has been the see (Bishop's Seat) of an Anglican
bishop. The rocky mass is perforated by numerous caverns, some of which penetrate for several hundred feet into the rock.
The largest, called the “Hall of St. Michael”, is 220 feet long, 90 feet wide and 70 feet high, and its
floor is connected with the roof by stalactite pillars ranging up to 50 feet in height; the entrance lies 1,100 feet
above the sea. Gibraltar is the only place in Europe where monkeys (a few Barbary apes) live wild.
British Strategic Outpost
Gibraltar was known to the early Phoenician navigators. The Greeks called it Calpe, and it and Abyla, opposite
(now Ceuta) formed the Pillars of Hercules, long held to be the western boundary of the World.
In 711 A.D. the Saracen leader Tarik fortified it, as a base of operations against the Visigothic kingdom, and from him
it took the name of Gebel-el-Tarik, or Hill of Tarik, of which Gibraltar is a corruption.
In 1303 Ferdinand 11 of Castille won it from the Moors, but in 1333 it fell into the hands of the King of Fez. In 1410,
Yussuf, King of Granada, possessed himself of the fortress which, however, was finally wrested from the Moors by the
Spaniards in 1462.
A combined Dutch and English force compelled the governor to capitulate in 1704, and since then Gibraltar has remained
continuously in the possession of the British, in spite of many desperate efforts on the part of Spain and France to
dislodge them.
The greatest of these efforts was in 1779-82, when it was defended with heroic valour by General Eliot (Lord Heathfield)
and 5,000 men, including 1,100 Hanoverians.
The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Mediterranean with the Atlantic Ocean. It is 30 miles long, and narrows eastward.
Its width between Point Europa and Cape Ceuta is only 15 miles; at the western extremity 24, and at the narrowest point
9 miles.
Thursday
23 March 1950
Arrival at Lisbon
RMS Caronia is due to arrive at Lisbon at approximately 8.00am on Thursday, 23 March,
and it is expected she will go alongside.
LISBON, the capital of Portugal, stands on the northern shores of a bottle-shaped expansion
of the Tagus, nine miles from the river's mouth. It is 412 miles by rail from Madrid. The
city extends for four or five miles along the shore, and climbs up the slopes of a low range
of hills, occupying a site of imposing beauty.
The oldest part of Lisbon is that which escaped the earthquake of 1755; it lies on the east, round the citadel, and
consists of narrow, intricate streets. It is still known by its Moorish name of Alfama.
The western portions were built after the earthquake, with wide and regular streets, fine squares, and good houses. The
summits are mostly crowned with what were formerly large monasteries. The cathedral of the “patriach” has a
choir and a Gothic façade. The church of St. Vincent contains the tombs of the Braganza family, whilst the
church of Estrella is a reduced copy of St. Peter's at Rome.
In San Roque is a chapel thickly encrusted with mosaics and costly marbles. But the finest structure in the city is the
Gothic monastery and church of Belern, a monument to the great seamen of Portugal.
The building of this church was commenced in 1500 on the spot from which Vasco da Gama embarked in 1497 on his
momentous voyage of discovery. Inside the church are tombs to Camaoens and Vasco da Gama, and the grave of Catherine,
wife of Charles II of England.
A fine square facing the bay is surrounded with government offices, the handsome custom house and the marine arsenal.
There is an academy of sciences, with an extensive library; a polytechnic school, a medical school, a conservatory of
music, a public library, museums, and two observatories.
An aqueduct brings water to the city from springs nine miles to the North-West. In the cemetery of the English church
Fielding was buried in 1754. The harbour is one of the finest in the World, well sheltered, with deep water close to
the quays.
The most important industries are in gold and silver wares and in jewellery; next come cotton-spinning and weaving, the
manufacture of silk, hemp, chemicals, hats, and other articles.
Lisbon is a contradiction of Olisipo, its name as capital of the Lusitanians. From the Romans it passed to the Goths,
from the Goths to the Moors (716), who kept their hold of it down to 1147, when Alphonso I. of Portugal seized it with
the help of English, German and Flemish crusaders.
It was made the capital of the kingdom in 1422. In 1580 it was seized by Alva for Philip I. of Spain; and it was from
this port that the “invincible” Armada set sail. When the Duke of Braganza roused his countrymen to strike
off the Spanish yoke (1640), he recaptured Lisbon, and once more it became the capital.
On November 1, 1755, in less than ten minutes, the greater part of the city was made a heap of ruins by the great
earthquake, and between 30,000 and 40,000 persons were killed.
The Joy of Adventure
Adventures are still the greatest human joy. No home without the adventure of travel from and back to it would seem
sweet. As a civiliser and educator, travel is what it will always be, the World's most masterful and sympathetic
teacher, its most beguiling entertainer and its most magnetic leader.
Travel isn't merely going somewhere under conditions of renewed health, pleasure and entertainment. Its greatest value
is in returning with an abundant store of well worth knowledge, memories, new friends, and fresh views of the living world.
Journey's End
We are nearing the end of our Cruise. Agreeable companions, perfect cruise spirit, genuine
recreation and good weather have combined to contribute to our enjoyment.
Although our adventure draws to a close, the memory of many incidents will linger. There will be recollections of
shipboard friends and foreign lands ever present to help us live over again in the future this Great African Cruise.
We thank you for your co-operation, and the very fine spirit shown throughout the Cruise. And
now, we have reluctantly to say “Au Revoir”, but not “Goodbye”. The Cruise Staff
