A WARDEN'S DIARY. By K. de P. Beaton. Nairobi National Park.

1949 1st edition. 8vo (148 x 218mm). Pp114. B/w photograph plates. Yellow cloth, upper board and spine titled in gilt.

Kenneth de Planta Beaton was warden of the Nairobi National Park. This is a collection of his articles on life in the park that were originally published weekly in the East African Standard. This volume covers January to June, 1949. A second volume, from the same year, covers the July to December period. "Ken Beaton has had the task of developing and controlling this National Park since its inception, and on many occasions he must have had some difficulty in explaining to his proteges that it is in fact a game sanctuary, despite the increasing number of people that invade it. It is mainly his great love and knowledge of African wild life that has enabled him to hold that difficult balance between agressive people and justifiably suspicious animals. In these notes he has recorded many delightful incidents and observations that make up that strange pattern of Nature where might is right and only the fittest survive.In this modern rush to fill the world with busy, unhappy people there is little time to stop and see those small events that so easily become a pageant of enjoyment. Ken Beaton has that rare quality of being able to observe and record those small events." (From the foreword by M.H. Cowie, Director, Kenya National Parks).