ADVENTURE IN ASIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21757, 23 March 1934, Page 9

ADVENTURE IN ASIA

LONDONER BECOMES RULER WIFE. TO SHARE THRONE LONDON, March 16 A London suburban housewife is awaiting a call to share with her husband the throne of the State of Sinkiang. Bordered by Russia, Afghanistan and India, the State, formerly part of China, is now in the throes of civil jvar. Undeterred by any fears of falling into the hands of wild tribesmen or fanatical religious devotees, §he will shortly leave Londop to take part in the coronation. Like a story from the "Arabian Nights" is the odyssey of Mr. Bertram Sheldrake, a middle-class Londoner, who a few years ago embraced the Moslem faith and later became Sheik of the British Moslems. He set out for Asia as a Mohammedan missionary, and travelled extensively as a ■ nomad preacher. , When he came to Sinkiang, now torn by civil war, the chiefs welcomed him as a saviour and invited bim to rule the. State. He accepted and renamed the country Islamistan. He is now tackling the task of controlling the roaming brigands" and making the country efficient on modern lines.