ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14225, 23 November 1909, Page 7

ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

BIRTLES' LONG ride.

CANNIBAL BLACKS AND- GIANT SNAKES.

Francis Birti.es. the cyclist, who left Fremantle on September 29, reached Sydney on Friday week, at 1.30 p.m., having covered, according to cyclometer, 305fcTi miles. . On leaving Fremantle, Birtks rode for '300 miles in an easterly direction. He followed the surveyed line of the proposed transcontinental railway. The country passed through over this portion of the journey was, he says, barren, hungry-look-ing country, flat and uninteresting, and with not sufficient graes or other material fit to feed a rabbit.

" I had," he remarked, " a very lonely ride on this early portion of my journey, and could not sleep for the innumerable great ants and the ferocity of the mosquitoes. So great a nuisance did the mosquitoes and ants become that I had to strip and smear my body with a preparation similar to eucalyptus salve, but stronger. The | heat of the soil along portions of the route was terrible. Now and then bushes.would appear, and when I got anywhere in the vicinity of them I had a halt. It was not wise, however, to rest near any shrubbery in such a country, as the shade of the bushes attracted what are known as giant spiders, about l|in long. These aro poisonous, and ferocious if disturbed. On my fourth day out I was sleeping comfortably, rolled round in a cloth, when suddenly 1 was awakened by something chewing at my wrist. It was a full-grown dingo. I hred at him, but he was too quick." After covering 350 miles, Birtles made for Eucla, thence journeying to Port Augusta. Over this portion of the route he encountered numerous natives. They hAiled the cyclist with delight, held corroborees in his honour, and brewed special concoctions for him. Finding Birtles had a cold, one old gin, famous as a magician, collected some special' leaves. She made the cyclist sit down in a bush tent whilst she made a mixture by chewing leaves, as the Fiji natives make kava. Amidst rattling of spears and smacking of thighs with the hands by the tribe, the cyclist was given about half-a-cupful of the stuff in a piece of dried skin. " I had to take it," he remarked. "To refuse was to insult the tribe, and to insult the tribe meant a bad time, 'indeed a dangerous time, for —possibly a cannibalistic feast."

! Leaving? Port Augusta, Birtles made for "Broken Hill. He encountered a few wild natives here and there. Constant fear of having to participate in some ceremony caused him to hasten over this portion of his' route. When midway between Port Augusta and Broken Hill lie fell into a swamp abounding with lizards and what he took to be crocodiles. When he emerged from the swamp he had to run about to drv the sticky mud with which he was covered. The clay seemed of a gluey consistency, and. he felt as stiff in his clothes as if he had been starched and smoothed out. " I only got rid of my trouble," he remarked, "by having a dip in the first stream I met." During his trip over this portion of the' route the overlander encountered innumerable snakes, varying in length from 4ft to 15ft. On one occasion he rode over a 12ft reptile, which coiled itself round the spokes, and was only dislodged by repeated blows.- " From Broken Hill to Cobar I began to take pleasure in my run. It was delightful to get into civilised country. From Cobar to Bathurst I had splendid runs, and the same applied to my trip from the western city to Sydney." After leaving Anthony Hordern'a emporium, where the trip ended, Mr. Birtles journeyed to the Sydney Bicycle Club's rooms, where he was entertained. Mr. George presided, and there was a large attendance. Special speeches complimentary to the cyclist were made. Mr. Birtles replied, and detailed in a few words some of his experiences. The cvclist has taken nearly 600 photos, during his trip. v