A Word in Advance

This is the chronicle of a six-month journey which took us through New Zealand, Australia and Malaya. The reasons for this journey were twofold – firstly that I wanted to see what was being done about conservation in these countries, and secondly that the BBC wanted to make a series of television films on the same subject. I am acutely conscious of the fact that the length of time we spent in each country gives the impression of an extremely rapid Cook’s tour and, quite obviously, I have probably misshapen the truth and left out a number of things which I should have mentioned.

It is, strangely enough, very difficult to write a book like this and try to strike a happy medium between a work entitled Two and a Half Days in Djakarta or South East Asia Exposed and to write the literal truth, as you see it, which may appear offensive to the many people who gave you such unstinting help and such warm hospitality; people unfortunately have a habit of taking things personally.

So may I take this opportunity to fend off a few of the irate letters which I will inevitably receive from New Zealanders, Australians and Malayans, telling me that no one who has spent only six weeks in the country has the right to criticise. I think that having spent five minutes in a place you have every right to criticise. Whether your criticisms are valid or not is for the reader to decide. But at any rate, I can say one thing with all honesty – that it was a glorious trip and I enjoyed every moment of it.