DESERT AND JUNGLE

Evening Star, Issue 21721, 16 May 1934, Page 7

DESERT AN D JUNGLE

MODERNISED BY THE AIRWAY (Contributed.) Deserts ire losing their solitude, and the jungle its terrors, in these days of long-distance air travel. When, the other day, an Imperial Airways liner was flying between Baghdad and the Gulf of Suez, roughly sixty miles west of the air-station at Rutbah Wells, the pilot alighted to make a small adjustment. Just for a moment, after the air liner had alighted, the scene was one of such loneliness and solitude that the pilot remarked to his passengers: ” Well, here you have the real desert.” Hardly,''however, had the words passed his lips when aeroplanes and motor cars began to appear as though from nowhere. Several R.A.F. machines name .-..oaring overhead and, on ascertaining that all was well, entertained the passengers of the air liner with an impromptu display of flying. Then several motor cars arrived containing a number of interested spectators. Immediately after that another aerial visitor hove in sight, this being an aeroplane engaged in patrolling the Iraq oil pipeline. The pilot of this machine alighted to see if he could be of assistance, and some passengers he had with him joined the throng. Finally a couple of motor cars driven by natives, were seen approaching. These, however, did not stop, their occupants merely glanciilg across, and passing on, as though the sight was of too every clay • a character to merit special attention. “Such is the desert of to-day,” was the comment of the air liner pilot as they resumed their voyage. And it the desert is thus becoming modernised, it is equally true that in these days of air travel ‘Africa is no longer a dark continent. . In a report received by Imperial .Airways recently, the story came through of a small party of engineers who were flying from one part of Africa to another. in a machine required to supplement a service. While in the air they were in wireless touch with various stations. Eresontly a message came through advising them to alight for an hour or so to avoid a storm just ahead. _ Tins they did, coming down at a jungle halt hundreds of miles from anywhere. There was not a- sign of , life as they alighted. But hardly had they emerged from their cabin when a friendly native appeared apparently from nowhere, and clambered up a tree to fix the aerial enabling them, while on the 2 round, to keep in wireless touchy with stations on the route. Nor was this all. For a big-game hunter appeared suddenly on the fringe of the jungle.. His camp, he said, was not far off, and he insisted on their coming back and joining him at lunch. An extremely fine lunch it seems to have been, too, reminding them more of a. West End restaurant than the wilds of Africa. After which, receiving a favourable weather report, they quickly resumed their flight; being much entertained in their minds to find that prompt assistance, to say nothing of a first-class meal, might be obtained in the depths of an African jungle. After a flight across Africa, not long a<ro. an airway passenger was describing how, while passing over the desert, they had alighted at an intermediate re-fuelling station, in a desolate and seemingly endless waste-of sand, only to be greeted by natives carrying a pot or coffee. “As‘we glided down. said this traveller, ■“ I could see the white circle in the desert marking the landing ground, and a few seconds later the wheels made contact and the machine slowed down. , , “ Natives appeared, running towards us. Leading them was a native wcaiinY khaki and a topee—the monarch oAbis desert kingdom! Qickly parol drums were rolled, tronr a hut, ami icfuelling began. The native in khaki produced a notebook and kept check ot the gallons delivered, Meanwhile, two of his menservants, from'a few houses about a mile away, arrived with coffee for the air-liner commander. Jet-black natives they were, in spotless white o-owns, strutting across the desert with a tray. Upon it were cups and saucers and a silver receptacle resembling something between an ancient urn and a modern teapot, ... , ■ r “ Have some,” said the skipper. I did. It was excellent. • i “• And a minute or so later that parol station in the vastness of the desert had vanished like a mirage as our great machine climbed again skyward.