MOTORING IN EGYPT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143770, 19 April 1912, Page 4

MOTORING IN EGYPT.

BARON'S REMARKABLE TRIP. 'Che Cairo correspondent of the Pall 3 lall Gazette describes a marvellous motoring feat which has just been accomplished in Upper Egypt by Baron Waclawiczek. Recently he announced his intention of driving from Cairo to j-buxor, a distance of some 670 kilo- ] nctres, and true to Ids word lie started on his journey op Thursday, January 18, fm the company of throe friends. Kgypt is, however, not like other countries, and roads do not exist outside the towns, so the enterprising motorist . found he had his work cut out lor him. From time to time the car had to, plough its way through open fields, and very often the canal bank, along which the best going was to he found, would be i suddenly cut in two. On one occasion, in trying to rush one of these apertures, the car ran on to the top of a mudhut, with disastrous results to the latter. As proof of the bad roads and heavy going in certain parts, only five kilo- , metres were covered in six hours, and i just this side of Assiont one of the comj pany had to swim the canal in order I to ascertain whether there were any ! passable ‘‘roads” on the other side. At Soiiag the natives were most menacing. ; and inundated the car with stones, so ■ much so that the baron had to apply ; to the Mudir (Governor) for police pro- . tection. . , ; Very often the motorists had to camp 'out in the open, and altogether the undertaking was a very great test of the endurance of the car and its passengers, i The last day was the worst of the tup, the party having nothing to eat from o n.m. to 6 p.m M length, at sunset on the ninth day, Luxor hove w sight and the feat was at an end. To ; anyone who knows the district at all, this is <1 | wonderful achievement, almost unique in the annals of motoring, since tlie car i need was an ordinary one, and the baion is to Ixv congratulated not onlj - daring enterprise, hut also oni his j ~ ! demonstrated to the authorises what a ■ beneficial result would ensue and hat an attraction would he ’n 0 proper system of road communication.