VANISHED EXPLORERS

Evening Star, Issue 19697, 26 October 1927, Page 5

VANISHED EXPLORERS

IN THE JUNGLES OF BRAZIL SEARCH FOR COLONEL FAWCETT. Press Asioc’ilion—By Telegraph,—Copyright. NEW YORK, October 21. Commander George Gyott, explorer and author, [dans lo sail lor Rio do Janeiro on December 10 to search the uncharted Brazilian wilderness lor Colonel P. H. Fawcett, the English explorer, who was last, heard from in May, 1925, when seeking traces el a lost civilisation. Colonel Fawcett was reported to have been found last September, when Mr Roger Courtcvillc, a Brazilian engineer, believed that he saw Colonel Fawcett, his sou Jack, and another white man living a primitive farm life in a wilderness paradise nacr Diamantana. They were unwilling to return to civilisation, and preferred the uncomplex existence. Colonel Fawcett’s identity was never definitely established. In the event of Commander Gyott not finding Colonel Fawcett, ho intends to push on in an effort to discover the civilisation - that the latter sought. “ Where is Colonel P. H. Fawcett? ” asked the ‘Daily- News’ on January 11, which emphasised that tho explorer’s last message was dated May JO, 1925. Prior lo entering the Brazilian jungle, which is inhabited by cayc-dwelling cannibals, Colonel Fawcett said; “ Don’t count on any more despatches, as recent trouble with the Indians makes communication precarious.” Five months still remain of the two years during which Colonel Fawcett told his friends not to worry, but tho. Royal Geographical Society is most anxious regarding him. Dr W. M. M'Covorn, the well-known explorer, who has returned front Brazil, discovered no trace of Colonel Fawcett, and tho society has told volunteers that it has decided not to send a relief expedition, us to find (he explorers in the jungle would be almost au impossibility. . . Colonel P. IT. Fawcett, a British explorer with distinguished record, sailed on January 12, 1925, from New York for Rio de Janeiro, lor_the purpose of smashing through 1,500 miles of jungle swamp to a hidden ancient city in the heart of Brazil, which he believed would give proof that South America, and not the Valley of Euphrates, was tho cradle of civilisation. The expedition was sanctioned and aided by the Royal Geographical Society and the American Geographical Society . The site of the ancient city lies on the south watershed of the -Amazon, between the Xingu and Tapojoz Rivers. The expedition was to visit countries occupied by black dwaris and pit-dwell-ers, who live in holes covered by leaves and sticks. The route mapped out skirts the country' of tho Mundurucus, a robust race of reddish-colored Indians living between the Tapojoz and Paranatinga Rivers, and having women chiefs. Beyond tho ancient city lies the Amazons’ country. Eastward is the dwelling-place of tho Asusmis, or white Indians. Farther eastward lies an ancient city of majestic Cyclopean architecture, which Colonel Fawcett previously visited. With the party were Colonel Fawcett’s twenty-three-year-old son. Jack, and Mr Raleigh Kimmcl. aged twenty-five. Colonel Fawcett had arranged to contribute an account of his explorations to the 1 Evening Star,’ ami preliminary articles were received from him, and published by this paper, preceding his plunge into the unknown.