I was released by the School of Oriental and African Studies on leave of absence from 7 November to 16 December 1977 to visit Paris, Khartoum, Rome, Tunis, Nouakchott, Rabat, and Lisbon to acquire publications for the Library, to visit universities, libraries, bookshops, etc. and to renew previous contacts.

In Europe I endeavoured to obtain older French, Italian and Portuguese publications which the Library had not acquired in the past. In Africa the object of my journey was to concentrate mainly on more recent publications which would have been difficult toiget without a personal visit.