Walking Party Plans Trip From Burma Into China

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 184, 6 August 1938, Page 3

Walking Party Plans Trip From Burma Into China

FOUR NEW ZEALANDERS TO GO Four New Zealanders aro among the six adventurers who will leave for a walking tour from Burma to what they term tho “loveliest spot in tho world,' Yunnan Province, in China. Miss M. B. Byles, a Sydney solicitor, leader of the party, has practised her profession in Sydney for 14 years, and is a member of the Sydney Bush Walkers' Club and Rucksack Club, states an exchange. In 1920 Miss Byles tramped and climbed in many places during a trip round the world. She is well aware of the many dangers and difficulties that may beset the party on the six months’ holiday which has been planned, for during the last two years she has studied all aspects of the trip, and been in touch with people who have actually travelled in the places she hopes to visit.

The New Zealanders of the party include Miss Marjorie Edgar Jones, of Tirnaru, one of New Zealand's well known trampers and climbers, Messrs M. Bowie, and Fraser Radcliffe, and a Swiss, Mr Kurt Suter, who abandoned his career as an electrical engineer, and travelled in many countries before opening a cook-shop on the Homer tunnel scheme.

Mr Suter has already left New Zealand for Rangoon to make advance arrangements. The other member of the party is Miss Dora do Beer, now on her way from London to Burma. -She is an active member of the Royal Geographical Society, and has travelled and climbed a good deal. Miss Byles is particularly curious about the Nashi and Moso tribes which she will encounter on the journey. They aro the descendants of some of the people who occupied Yunnan before the Chinese overwhelmed them. The women of this race have a unique interest. It is said that when a man marries, he adopts the name of his wife. This, however, does not prevent him from making the wife the bearer of all the burdens.

Whether the first fact is true or not Miss Byles intends to find out for herself, and perhaps she will collect material for another book. After her first world trip she published “By Cargo Boat and Mountain.''

Members of the party, acting on the

advice of the missionaries, will wear Chinese clothing during the journey. “It seems definite that tho expedition will be ruined if tho party attempts to enlighten the Chinese by wearing shorts," said Miss Byles.