Anywhere But Here

Anyone who has followed my previous reviews of Peter Pinney's books will be unsurprised to see it has five stars. Pinney is probably my favourite author (certainly of travel), and although I have read almost all of his books, I am yet to track down copies of a couple.In this book, Pinney again shares some of his loveable rogue experiences - and although he (and travel companion Anna, for most of this journey) manipulates the truth, makes use of other peoples possessions, breaks promises and has a lack of respect for authority (ie lies, cheats, steals) it is clear that this is never carried out to the disadvantage of the poor man. There may be inconvenience as a result of say - borrowing a canoe to cross a river, and certainly the government officials were left out of pocket in almost all cases, and fruit trees may have had some of their bounty removed, but there is no malice in the travel of Pinney.This journey takes us across Africa from East to West, commencing in Tanganyika (modern Tanzania), where his previous book [b:Who Wanders Alone 22650451 Who Wanders Alone Peter Pinney https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404457348l/22650451.SX50.jpg 42149962] comes to an end. Written in 1956, I assume it takes place a little earlier than this, at a time where European powers are well on their way to corrupting tribal Africa, so many are the names of countries and zones which no longer exist, from the well known Southern and Northern Rhodesia, to exotic named places such as Barotseland and Cabinda, to those zones of ownership - French Equatorial Guinea, Spanish Guinea, Gold Coast, and Ivory Coast.Either way Pinney covers a lot of ground, mostly on foot, with so little money that he is reliant on the charity of many (which is frequently given), and some strength to go hungry where required. What money he earns in a string of unorthodox work doesn't last long, as he is quick to return the favour and assist others. Nevertheless, his work as a stage-hand, a devil-image salesman, or a cataloguer of Liberian folk-tales keep him moving forward.His travel is far from easy - as noted above, his most typical mode of travel is by foot, but of then he is offered rides by vehicle. He also crews on boats up the coast, but with Anna, travelling by foot through the swampy marshes, effected by tidal waters and quicksand was probably the most risky period, and this along with the risk of simply being killed to rob (despite having nothing), and the high risk of sickness were probably a combination that suggests Pinney is subject to an over-abundance of good luck.Interspersed in his travel tales, and short, but very well formed explanations of the political or cultural situations of the time. Also short historical inputs and some philosophical thinking, as well as inevitable ‘discussions' with others he comes in contact with about such topics as the white man's role in Africa, and religion / missionary effects on Africa. These are usually a page at most, and re well articulated, and not distracting from the narrative. It is fair to say he plays a baiting role to may of these ‘discussions'.P122“Can't they be left to themselves for a while? I feel a little sorry for these Africans. Everyone keeps telling them what they can and cannot do, and then forcing them to do something entirely different.”But the more interesting quotations come from some of his descriptive writing, spending time with the poor, and away from European influences.P140Thus is was we entered a low eating-house on the lamplit shores of the river in a Moslem neighbourhood, a modest boxwood shanty having no walls at all, but sufficiently screened with hanging bags. There were several benches and three tables, and upon each table were oil-lamps which cast soft shadows on the haze of airborne cooking-fats and wood-smoke, and gently illuminating a dozen Africans at food; on the floor at the farther end were cooking-fires, and a fine diversity of smells arose from bubbling pots and sizzling pans. The chef was a robust ogre of glistening dark bronze with an incense pastille smouldering in his hair, a swearing, sweating Panta-gruel naked to the waist and stoking fires, lifting lids, and scooping out great globs of meat and manioc and fish: he might have been cooking skulls on the shores of River Styx.Five stars.