Henry J. Neils’
Travelogue of 1959 Great World Cruise
Henry J. Neils was a businessman from Minneapolis. He wrote a daily diary of his voyage on the 1959 Great World cruise. Presumably, the 30 faded typewritten sheets had been duplicated for distribution to his employees.
The transcribed document now forms 25 pages of the Timeline, accessible from links on the January, February, March and April 1959 month pages. This was the first special feature to be added to the Timeline as it entered its 2nd year of being on-line.
Henry's quoted text throughout the site start with this indicator: H.J.N.…
Henry J Neils’ Travelogue 25 February 1959
Mombasa, Kenya
H.J.N.…
Population: 102,000
- Background
- Populace
- African
- 54,000
- Indian
- 31,000
- Arabian
- 14,000
- European
- 3,000
Only a 132 miles from Zanzibar, the ship made the trip leisurely overnight. English speaking Indian driver took us to Fort Jesus, which was built by the Portuguese in 1592 and changed hands many times in subsequent years between them and the Arabs.
In 1875 the British captured it. Mombasa is a province of Kenya, which is under British rule with the Governor residing in Nairobi, the capital. Mombasa has the best harbour on the east coast of Africa and is the storage place for much oil. The big tanks can be seen bunched in several tank fields.
H.J.N.…
This port is the outlet for products from Kenya and the country lying north and west. The predominant language is
Swahili, a combination of Arabic and Native. This is not a Christian country because of the Arab and Indian influence.
The native dances at Kisauni were the finest performances seen so far. The group came from Nairobi and is made up of professionals. It was difficult to interpret the dance movements, but they reminded me of the early days at Cass Lake where the Chippewa Indians held their pow-wows.
The drums were about 12” in diameter and 30” long, made of hollowed out palm-tree trunks, with skins stretched across each end. Fingers and hands did the tapping instead of drum sticks. The beaded costumes were quite colourful.
I attended the Mombasa Rotary Club luncheon and found it very interesting. Of the forty-two members, half are Europeans; the other half, non-white.
Back to the Caronia on a hot day, 100°F., and a welcome bath. Will sail at 5.30pm for Port Victoria - 969 miles to the east.