PRINCESS OF ARCTIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

PRINCESS OF ARCTIC.

AMID JHE ETERNAL SNOW.

NIECE OF EGYPTIAN KINO. Within the Arctic Circle and removed from all contact with civilisation for nine months every year, dwellers on the lonely island of Spitzbergen are wondering whether a beautiful Egyptian princess will keep her promise to return to live among them. Over two years ago Princess Emina Mousrot, a niece of King Fuad of Egypt, left her uncle's palace in a land of eternal summer to seek adventure in this far northern outpost, with its long, dark, starless nights. She spent several months at Spitzbergen during the winter of 1927-28, living the simple life of. a pioneer. , The courage and skill of the princess in hunting and ski-ing won her much popularity among the residents. So enamoured did she become of the rough life that after returning to the Norwegian mainland last summer, she decided to go back to the island and build herself a house. " I am suffering from what is called the Spitzbergen disease, which, like the lure of the East, is an irristiblo longing to get back to the North when once one, has been there," she said on that occasion. "I shall go back before the summer is over—perhaps for good." ' The Princess made all arrangements to leave for Spitzbergen as soon as possible, but the cold weather set in very early last year and shipping had to be stopped; and so she had to wait until the spring of this year to realise her wishes. But she has since left Northern Europe, and the inhabitants of the desolate islo are wondering whether she will ever again visit its inhospitable shores.