THE LIBYAN DESERT

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 10, 13 January 1933, Page 14

THE LIBYAN DESERT

BRITISH EXPEDITION

PAINFUL PASSAGE

A first-hand account of the adven- } tures of the British expedition, led by Major R. A. Bagnold, which has returned from its exploration of the South Libyan Desert, has been given by Lieutenant G. L. Prendergast. Lieutenant Prendergast, who is a member of the expedition, left the party at Wadi Haifa, in the Sudan, and went on as advance guard to Cairo. He declared that the scientific results of the trip, whic.li has lasted two months, have come up to expectations, and would form the subject of a report by Major Bagnold later. In addition to Major Bagnold and Lieutenant Prendergast, the members of the expedition were Dr. K. S. Sandford, of Oxford University; Mr. W. O. K. Shaw, late of the Sudan Forestry Service; Major J. H; Boustead, commanding the Sudan Camel Corps; Captain V. F. Craig, Royal Engineers; Lieutenant B. N. Harding-Newman, Royal Tank Corps; and Lieutenant-D. R. Paterson, Eoyal Corps of Signals. Major Bagnold, Lieutenant Pateraon, Major Boustead, and Mr. Shawl-climbed Mount Uweinat, which is between 4000 and '5000 feet high, the plateau at' the top being ten miles across. •; This was a most difficult operation, the party having to carry a. two-gallons tin of water all the way to the summit to refresh themselves, each: taking turns to carry it for twenty minutes.' They found a well at Sarra 200 feet deep, which was-dug by the inhabitants of the Kufra many years ago. "When the party visited' r .Takroj a well in French EquatdriaJ Africa, they found two shrivelledrup black. pygmies who came from Ouanyanga.Lieutenant Prendergast was the yo-yo champion.of the party and taught the pygmies to play the game, to their great delight. ,: They "also laughed heartily at pictures in - English motor-cars and aeroplane magazines.. ■ It was expected that traces of Guraan raiders, the "Rob, Boys of the desert," known . also as "the 'people of "the rocks," would be found in. the Murdi depression and thi<" Wadi Guro-Guro. The. explorers -proceeded cautiously, keeping a sharp look-out night and day without meeting.the raiders.' -. An ostrich nest with a sitting bird in it with 96 eggs, inside was seen," an J thera were alao .many, gazelle of various sorts...' ■■ -. .... , ■/-..' ■■. ■ .■.'...,- ... .... at.kuttum: ■ After crossing the Wadi Hawa, the expedition eventually/, reached Kuttum, following a very difficult passage, during which they were tormented by prickly barbs of heskenit grass which found a way. into the cars.: The barbs resembled clusters of five little1 arrows. This lasted for several days. The first thing the party did at the end,of, a day's run was'to assist each other in plucking out the barbs with tweezers. The cars were often punctured by the thorns. ;'.•'. x . Proceeding north, they came to the Malha crater—3oo feet deep, with springs at the bottom, where cattle in large numbers were watering. From hero they went.on to Bir Natrun,',thence to tlioMerga oasis. There were traces of a recent Guraan,camp in this region, and a native drum was found. '. :, • When tho expedition left Uweinat for Beacon Point the convoy carried enough petrol, water, and food for oighteen days. No washing was, however; allowed- and1 the explorers were glad when they obtained thei" first wash for twelve days in very muddy water-at Kuttum. No water was issued for washing at any time, the ration of five, pints per man daily being purely for drinking purposes. No tents were carried, the party sleeping under tho stars every night. . . ■:■■,.. '■ -' .. "•"'While the explorers were, lunching: in tho shado of a rock between Kharga and Tfiyeinat a rusted spear, a knift, and a sword in a scabbard, and a little bag of. beada were found. Several times sites of prehistoric man with flint implements strewn about were discovered. Tjie daily luncheon consisted of .a.-,tin of •fruit among eight; biscuits/ butter; and cheese, and' a pint of water apiece ■vvith lime juieo. By the time the party were back in Cairo they had covered (33PP miles. ■:■■■;-. . ■ . '"..'.^y