UNKNOWN AMERICA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 February 1926, Page 2

UNKNOWN AMERICA.

EKPLOIREIR BEDIEiVED' LOST. LONDON, Dec. 3. Anxiety is felt here for the safety of Dr. William M’Govern, the Oxford explorer who set out in May to explore the country in the neighbourhood ol the head waters of the Amazon. Dr. M’Govern planned to cross the Andes and come out at Iquitos. Peru, by the end of October. No news from lnm lias been received since August- 20. and unless definite in formation is forthcoming a search party probably will be dispatched from Iquitos. The last word from Dr. M’Govern wa s a' letter borne by a bearer who was afraid to penetrate farther with the explorer. M’Govern says in this letter, which is dated Jaurette, Northwest Brazil, and took almost two months to reach London: “For the last three weeks we have been in the real Indian district. The men are all naked excepting a loin cloth, and most of the women dispense even with that ornament. Up to now the natives have been fairly friendly, although many have never seen a white man before. Fortunately, 1 succeeded in making friends with the local cliieltalii and through him a great kaschiri feast was arranged, so that Mannling was able to take the dance' and ceremonial scenes.

“To-mlorrow we leave the Vaupes River, by which we have travelled until now, and enter Rio Apapous. From the district where the river begins we must attempt to travel overland to Rlio Apaporis, a. tributary of the Yapura. Wo shall soon be out of this district inhabited by friendly tribes and must live for a time among really wild Indians.

The natives of these parts are - said to have declared war on the whites recently. There is also a rumour that a month ago they killed a party of rubber prospectors. Personally, 1 don’t believe the danger is. serious, but my Brazilian servants are very frightened and want to go back to Man os from here. Finally, two of them decided to stay with us to the end, but the third determined to return home. To-day he will depart with his dugout, and I take the opportunity to- send you a letter by! him. “I am getting on very well, only 1 can’t get accustomed to- the diet of monkeys, ants and momok porridge.” Rumours that Dr. M’Govern halted on the east side of the Andes to carry out special investigations reached London from a roundabout- route through the United States. As isuch investigations were not included in the explorer’s purpose, his friends are sceptical.