TRAVELLER’S STORY

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1929, Page 10

TRAVELLER’S STORY

MANY HAIR BREADTH ’SCAPES. SYDNEY, November 9. Many adventures on his tour of the world are recounted by Mr Bohumil Pospisil, a Czechoslovakian journalist, who arrived from Hongkong by the Changte. He says that in three years he crossed many countries, and covered 62,500 miles, and that he has •broken the world’s record of. 25,000 miles. Starting from Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia, on August* 10, 1926, without a penny in his pocket, and with one suit of clothes, he set out with a determination to cross all continents and islands, and raise funds for his sustenance and travelling expenses on the way. He states that he has passed through 50 different countries on foot, and by means of a variety of conveyances, including horses, camels, bul-lock-carts, donkeys, elephants and motor cars.

“Many efforts have been made by travellers of .different nationalities to attain the world’s record,” he said yesteraay, “but many of them have returned home without success, and many excursions have ended in disaster. An effort was made by Mr Podtatransky, a journalist, and a countryman of mine. Five years ago he set. out with his wife and friend to covei’ 62,500 miles. Heavily armed they attempted to cross the Arabian desert, ■ but were overtaken by Arabs. Mi; Podtatransky was killed and his wife seriously wounded. In spite of this, I felt I must . try to accomplish the; world’s record at any cost, for fear .that victory might fall to some man of another nationality. Roving in tramp style I have secured many thousands of photographs of costumes, of natives, and scenery, in various countries. I am collecting them for the purpose of lectures and books, and also ■ for different educational societies, and for the Ministry, of Education of Czechoslovakia. - For the lasLmentioned I.have a special order in regard, to Australia. —

‘.‘ln Kurdistan,” continued Mr Pos- ■ pisil, “I was attacked by fanatics, but to their, surprise they found I was unarmed, and even without food. This was an unheard of thing, as no man dared to leave his village without arms, and my life was saved. I crossed the Arabian desert on foot, and on donkeys and camels. I slept on the sand, and bartered with the Arabs for food. On one occasion Bedouins took- - my clotlies and everything I possessed, and then let me loose to meet what they thought would be a slow death. For four days I walked across the desert in the nude, guiding myself by/the sun and stars. Luckily it was the rainy season, but in the daytime I was exposed to the burning sun. Only my hair saved me from sunstr(?ke. At night I was prevented from sleeping by. chilly rain. My feet were bleeding and I was nearly mad. I lapsed into unconsciousness, and was picked up by the mysterious devilworshippers, who live in the mountainous oasis, ■ Djebel Sindjar. After recovering my strength, I proceeded cn my way.”

Mr. Pospisil said that he passed -fifteen provinces in China. Kidnapping occurred daily in broad • ® ven in the strongly guarded settlements of 'Shanghai and Tientsin, de was kidnapped evidently for ran- - om. Among them he found a well . ® d man w ho spoke good English. ? W ’ h rob =ibly the leader,” he W. ’ . explained to his colleagues mv mS? , ln ., be . if. China, and they nxChinr se J leH i regret - With exquisite St X court fsy they invited me to a aaes 1 fcrei sn ham, sausXv pvp 1?’ and French wines. Ssation n '?n\ e1 ’T d “ e financial com- I ?okt » d * P art ed from them in'chin? t g °° d . M anila cigar. While GyXai™ S ‘ Ven CTery «?**"«>»

‘‘These'are only a few of 'mv «d--intoit r to’f? 6 added ’ “ and lam iu ’ high face many others within tlm ‘ next two years before reaching myi native country. In spite of danger is sometimes easier to obtain foolac<T

transport in the wild countries than in the more civilised ones. ! 1 look forward to hospitality in Australia, and intend to travel some thousands of /miles overland My object is to study farms, plantations, mines, and the aborigines, and I will take many photographs. Before leaving for the Pacific Islands and America, I hope to Write , a book on my travels.”