PEKIN TO PARIS BY MOTOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13537, 7 September 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

PEKIN TO PARIS BY MOTOR

Prixck Borghksk, in bis Itala car, which has done tho wonderful journey from Pckin, had a very troublesome journey through Eastern Russia from Perm to Kazan. One incident was the smart and clever way, in -which a village wheelwright repaired the car wheel, which had dropped to pieces owing to the roughness of the roads.

The special correspondent of the Telegraph, who is riding with Prince Rorghese, says they were traversing a vast pine forest when the left back wheel smashed up. The spokes had come completely away from the rim, and the mechanician tier] them up with tree branches. While the work was going on an old moujik appeared and told them there was a capable wheelwright four miles away. "It takes nearly an hour for us to reach the wheelwright," continues the correspondent. "He answers our summons, and conies out, followed by bis apprentices, all men with patriarchal beards, long hair, red shirts, and with their sleeves turned up, displaying the arms of athletes. To our great .. surprise one of them answers in Latin. ' Where did yon learn it?' Prince IJorghesc inquired, and that wild-looking man replied gravely: ' 1 studied it at home during the winter.' Thus partly in Russian, and partly in the language of Cicero we explain what we want.

"'lt shall be done.' the master carpenter replied. No other tool is used than an axe, managed with marvellous dexterity. For seven hours the work lasts, and finally at, seven, o'clock in the evening we once more mount the car, and the workers, shouting 'Good-bye stretch out their brave, horny hands, which we shake heartily. •' Soon Ave are engaged by the sight of cultivated fields, and emerging, from the shade of the forest see Europe once again. All around from the green earth Tartar and Christian villages arise, minarets and delicate towers, crescents and crosses, all mingled in the peace of the fields."