WOMAN EXPLORER

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 49, 26 August 1921, Page 10

WOMAN EXPLORER

NATIONAL RECOGNITION ,

ENTHUSIASTIC TRIBUTES.

(PIWM OCR OWN CDKItSBrONHNT.)

LONDON, 6th July

Every part of the country and all sections of the nation responded to 'the "national recognition" of Mrs. Rosita Forbes, organised by the National Political League. A\ notable feature was the generous appreciation from men who know or have travelled in the Middle East and understand the intrepid spirit of adventure across unknown and trackless desert places. Indian princes, including His Highness the Maharaj of Cutch, Egyptian rulers, and men of various nationalities with wide experi: ence in Eastern affairs were among the numerous leaders who signed the presentation book. The Prince of Wales was another of the signatories, and Mr. \V. F. Massey was one of the statesmen who appended his name.

Following a reception, the/presentation took place this week at the Hotel Cecil) when many ,appreciatory' things were said of the attractive 27-year-old woman explorer—the first woman 'to penetrato .to the headquarters of the, Senussi tribe in the / Sahara Desert, whence she brought back a fund of valuable information.

Lord Denbigh (chairman) said she had achieved high distinction as a traveller. The wonderful originality and resource of her work was bound to have farreaching results. She had opened up a new trade route between an almost unknown land in the Nile Valley; she had brought back a considerable amount of information about a fanatical race who during the war caused us no little

anxiety, situated as they were on our flank across the western desert. > She might well feel proud that she had done a good turn to the Empire.

There,was laughter and loud cheering when it was announced by Miss M. M. Farquharson (secretary to the N.P.L.) that " Poy," the Daily Mail cartoonist, had subscribed to a cartoon entitled, "There is more grit in a little woman than in a large desert." Amusement, too, followed her statement that there was a page of signatures from the policemen on duty at the House of Commons. At the suggestion of Lady Maud Warrender (who referred to her gallant, sister) the guests sang with great heartiness, "For She's a Jolly Good-Fellow." Very modestly, Mrs. Forbes protested about all the complimentary things that had been said of " the young woman of 27 " who had done so much. After all, she was only following in the footsteps of two famous Englishwomen—Mis? Gertrude Bell, G. 5.0.1., who had done such valuable service in Mesopotamia, and who was the only woman to achieve fame as a General Staff Officer; and the late Miss Alexandra Tilly, who had rendered the desert safe for women travellers, and whoso memory was cherished by • the natives. Before undertalving the journey to Kufra she had for two • years been wandering about the desert, which she loved. \

Mrs. Forbes gave her lecture, which is generously interspersed with; anecdote, and which is well illustrated with her own photographs. She carried her camera hidden in the folds'of her deep waistbelt, in which she had cut a little hole to make "snapshots" possible. One Arab youth was, bewildered when at the end of the journey he saw the' "black box with a clicking light in it."; Amongst the appreciatory comments of the Tribute, may be quoted those of :—

Mr. Balfmir: "Courage, enterprise, wealth of resource, the spirit of adventure have always commanded the sympathy, and adipiration of mankind. When these great gifts a|e employed to augment the sum of human knowledge and) to better'the relation- between different families of "the race, they'deserve our gratitude as well as'our admiration. All honour.vtherefoi-e, to Mrs. Rosita Forbes for her magnificent achievement." This Bishop of London : "Such acts of courage keep up the standard of conduct in the 'world, and redound to the prestige of the British Empire." The Bishop of- Sheffield : "A sustained effort of endurance,' a spirit of highest adventure, and a. courage which, fearing God, fears none beside. It is those qualities that make people great, and of which the nation • recognises an outstanding example in this wonderful woman." ' ,

HvH. the Maharao of Cuteh, G-.0.5.1., G.0.1.E. : "Acts of pluck are done when a man has friends or comrades who will share his dangers. Many acts of pluck are done when there is a large audience to cheer the performer. Many acts of pluck are the work of momentary excitement or sentiment. Few are,the acts of pluck done by a man who 5s lonely. Few are the acts of pluck done without an audience to cheer. Fewest of-all are those acts of pluck which involve a long-drawn a-nd Tesolute perseverance. Mrs. Rosita Forbes, by her bold and dangerous travels through unexplored wastes, waterless deserts, and unknown cities, rife with the easily-in-flanimable fanaticism of uneducated men, has performed an act which stands high among tho last-named group 'of plucky actions."