EMPIRE AIR ROUTES
Issued by Lambert & Butler

39: THE THADA, JODHPUR
For the next portion of our journey, to Jodhpur, our route is over rocky desert. Jodhpur is an ancient walled city, a striking feature being the fort set on a rocky eminence. Our picture shows the Thada, a great marble cenotaph built to the memory of the rulers of the state. From here the route is over a flat plain, then over hills and cultivated country until Delhi is reached. Here we see the buildings of Imperial Delhi designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker. When this city is left behind, it is possible to see the snow-capped Himalayas, over 200 miles away.

40: THE TAJ MAHAL, AGRA
From Delhi we fly over the United Provinces; between Delhi and Cawnpore, slightly south of our course, is Agra. Our picture shows the beautiful marble tomb erected by Shah Jehan in 1632 to the memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It took 20,000 workmen nearly 20 years to build, and it is said that Shah Jehan spent in its construction most of the wealth amassed by his forefathers. After Agra we fly past Cawnpore to Allahabad, from whence we fly over the confluence of the Jumna and the Ganges. Here we may see Hindus bathing in the famous and sacred River Ganges.

41: VICTORIA MEMORIAL HALL, CALCUTTA
Leaving the Ganges, we fly over flat country which later gives way to hills. Our air liner then passes the coal-mining area of Bengal, of which Asansol is the centre. As we approach Calcutta we encounter plains and green fields, and pass over the Hooghly River to reach the Airport. Calcutta, the commercial centre of Bengal, was established in 1690 (on the site of three Italian villages) as a trading post. It has now a population of nearly 1,000,000, and is the first port of India. Our picture shows the Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta, which contains many wonderful art treasures.

42: SHWE DAGON PAGODA, RANGOON
After leaving Calcutta the course is set over the vast area of marshland in the Ganges Delta, known as "the Sunderbunds". Having crossed the Bay of Bengal, we fly down the west coast of Burma, a region of dense jungle and mountains, to Akyab. The course then lies over the islands of Sandoway, where we turn inland over the Arakan Yoma range of mountains. Our air liner now crosses flat and thickly-populated country, subsequently following the Irrawaddy valley until Mingalodon Aerodrome is reached. In the picture we see Rangoon, with the great golden spire of the Shwe Dagon Pagoda towering above the city; this is one of the largest Buddhist shrines in the world.

43: TEMPLE OF THE DAWN, BANGKOK
Our air liner flies over the Gulf of Martaban, and the mountains separating Burma from Siam, an area of dense jungle. The mountains then give way to flat irrigated paddy (rice) fields, and soon Don Muang, the airport for Bangkok, is reached. This picture shows the Temple of the Dawn (also known as the Wat Arun), one of the many famous temples in Bangkok. The group of buildings is entirely covered with fragments of porcelain, which glitter effectively in the sunlight. Bangkok, the capital of Siam, is a most interesting city. After leaving Bangkok we fly off the east coast of Siam, and then towards the west coast of Malaya. Soon after leaving Malaya the island of Penang comes into view.

44: ENGLAND-INDIA-MALAYA-AUSTRALIA ROUTE:
MAP B
This map shows the route of the Empire air lines between Malaya-Australia and Penang-Malaya-Hongkong. The service to Hongkong, which is reached in a further two days, branches off here from Penang. The route is over the mountains of Malaya, then over the Gulf of Siam and the flat plains of Cambodia to Saigon. Cambodia is French territory, and the European quarter of Saigon, with its broad boulevards and cafes, is reminiscent of France. Then we fly over foothills and across jungle-covered mountains, until after passing Hue, in Annam, we reach the China Sea. We pass the Chinese island of Hainan and eventually reach Hongkong, where we land at Kai Tak Aerodrome. A description of the Penang to Brisbane route follows on cards Nos. 46-50.

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enlarged map

45: HONGKONG
Hongkong is reached in 10 and a half days by the Imperial Airways service (which leaves London on Saturdays). The island has been a British colony since 1841, and its present population is approximately a million. Declared an open port by the British, to-day ships of all nations are to be found in the harbour among the maze of native junks and sampans. It is the headquarters of the China Squadron of the British Navy, and has a University and important local industries. The highest point on the island is Mount Victoria, which is 1,774 ft. above sea level. Our picture gives a general view of the island of Hongkong, and its capital, Victoria.

46: THE "ATHENA" IN MALAYA
After leaving Penang, we fly over the coastal area, from which hills stretch inland. Paddy fields are passed, then rubber and pineapple country, with tin-mining districts here and there. As we near Singapore, our route lies over the coast, jungle sometimes alternating with extensive rubber plantations. Here the roads may be seen standing out as reddish lines. The Straits of Johore are flown over and we land at the aerodrome for Singapore. The illustration shows the Athena landing at the end of this portion of our journey.

47: SINGAPORE HARBOUR
Singapore, the great British naval base in Malaya, is also a great commercial centre. Our picture shows part of the picturesque and extensive harbour, with its maze of native boats and huts; in the distance may be seen some of the imposing buildings on the waterfront. The route between Singapore and Brisbane is operated by Qantas Empire Airways, a company in association with Imperial Airways, using the Commonwealth class of air liner (see card No. 49). After leaving Singapore, we fly across the sea to Sumatra, numerous small wood-covered islands being passed; subsequently we cross the swampy jungle of the Sumatra coast. We then fly over the sea to Batavia, Java, the capital of the Netherlands Indies, landing at Tjilitan Aerodrome, 9 miles south of the town.

48: FISHING BOATS AT BATAVIA, NETHERLANDS INDIES
Batavia, the capital of the Netherlands Indies, is Dutch in character in its European section, but there are interesting native districts and a Chinese quarter. From Batavia our course is over the fertile coastal plain; inland may be seen the densely-forested central mountain range. We fly over undulating hills via Surabaya, and then to the island of Bali, which is dominated by several volcanoes. Our air liner then travels via the Island of Lombok and the south coast of the mountainous Island of Sumbawa to Sumba Island, whence our course is over the sea and past small islands until we reach Kupang on Timor Island.

49: COMMONWEALTH CLASS,
QANTAS EMPIRE AIRWAYS LINER
We show the Royal Mail Air Liner Adelaide of the Qantas Empire Airways Commonwealth Class in flight over Northern Australia. There are five air liners in the Commonwealth class, and eleven in the Diana Class which comprises the same type of air liner. They each have a span of 64 ft. 6 in., a length of 46 ft., and a height of 12 ft. 6 in. Their weight, fully loaded, is 4.5 tons, and they are capable of a speed of 175 m.p.h. There is accommodation for ten passengers and a crew of two. The Commonwealth class is built by the De Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd., and each liner is fitted with four De Havilland 200 h.p. Gipsy Six engines. From Kupang (see card No. 48), we fly over the Timor Sea to Darwin on the north Australian coast.

50: BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND
From Darwin we fly over the Northern Territory of Australia. Then our route is in Queensland, via the hilly mining district of Mount Isa to Cloncurry, the junction of the Cloncurry-Normanton section of the air route. Our route now lies over the sheeplands until the country changes near Charleville to timbered districts of mixed farming. Brisbane is eventually reached, where we are at the terminus of our journey; we have travelled the 12,754 miles from London in 12 and a half days. Further schemes for development are under consideration, which, it is hoped, will enable passengers to fly between England and Australia in 7 days. It will be seen how important a part these Imperial Airways services play in linking up the Dominions and Colonies of our far-flung British Empire.

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