CYCLING ACROSS UGANDA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14336, 31 October 1910, Page 2

CYCLING ACROSS UGANDA.

YOUNG EXI'LORER'S MISSION. THE ROOSEVELT ROUTE. Without any fanfare of trumpets a strapping voting fellow left a quiet villa in "Tuinell-park. England, recently, with a vanful of baggage—pots. pans, tent-poles, and provender of all sorts —and a bicycle. In a few months time lie hopes to have returned Irom accomplishing tho somewhat startling feat of cruising Uganda on the bicycle that he took with him. After ex-President Roosevelt's tremendous account of the dangers and difficulties that he overcame with a generously equipped party to support him. this young explorer's expedition would seem on tlie lace oi it a trifle rash. For Mr Frank Kovaclii, who is taking almost exactly the Roosevelt route, is going alone —apart, of course, from the absolutely necessary band of some twenty native bearers. The truth scene to be. however, that is these day- a bicycle in Uganda is by no means the unheard-of method of progression that it- may have been thirtv vears a-j.. The country i.-, not all a pathless hai'.u; of c'.'pi.am.-. and '"rhinos.'' Turiiiii,' Ir-nn Ron-eve!turn rhetoric to the- .-m.1.-i- (>,li*.-1„.,.1 x ~„,. finds xliat "the!"- a'v roads all through Uganda, extending to Lake Albert- and Toro on tho limits of th» Congo Free State." In fact, the Government itself recommends cycling its the handiest way to get about. So Mr. Kovaclii knows his business. as indeed ho should, for from t!i>> friends with whom this latest pilgrim stays when he is in London—having neither father nor mother living—a. "Daily Chronicle" 1 representative learnt that Mr. Kovaclii is undertaking the mission under the *' semi-official " aegi6 of the Soudan Government. He is just l'O years old, is an Engils'linian born and bred, though of Hungarian extraction on. his faiher's side, and he is in the Soudan Government's employ—in the "steamers and boats 7 ' department. The mission is. it appears, partly a personal enterprise, and partly to make an official report upon the game preserves and the rapidly-developing possibilities of Central Africa as a tourist resort. To such an extent have some parte of it become even now a tourist country that Mr. Kovaehi left behind him some flaming and decidedly alluring posters, with visions of amiablelooking negroes reclining under palm trees, and inviting jaded Europeans in search of pleasure to visit the "Sunny Soudan " ! Another matter which Mr. Kovaclii is to investigate is the mineral wealtli of Uganda ii'.- !■'. and especially th-i probable extent of the mica yit-'.d, ; which is said to bo consider::!.!? I His route w.ii he. a.- has loon sai.l, i almost the same as that of ex-Presi-dent" Roosevelt, tic Ugh. <,f roi.rs- Mr : Kovaehi will g;, iiom Khaic.om to 'Mombasa, iictead oi from ."'lon.bs-n {oi i Khartoum. From Khartoum he'will go southward !.v boat, end Is hci-.g to r nke soi.c oNph-rnii, ;,. on the wa'c iin the •■ .'.'.-, :i.--..;.-ii -i:., ■' her-.v.-Ii [Kulah- ;hee.l,l K;, imda-an.l Ri.s,i :l -a ;ou the lV.u.- Niie. Hi b : -.-v,-10. ~ -,]. I say. :. ; .i secti.-i: . ; . !: 1 ~; 1;1 ; 0 | ■inc.' he re: !-.s the ici.c".;* n),'iif.',.r the Yictir.n Xya,,,:, "he -.ill |,,,. „ f I eourse, more , r |„ s ,-„, lV U ,,, u , n Itinck. Alrenov. as i i..; >-. v 5, >; ul .., ~. j a rt'iiiir ~v , ,-;:.; uli '; ,.,. : tWVXI KllSlMie ;,-,,.! i.-,"-.-. v, I ,.' ; 'f ; »' '«'« ,'ency : though j.;: : foi^:i:':';c.;;o,uvr!amer; | am! i-ciic; uc- n a urn in kiKe.vhd-.-i. ~i Arabi- ;„ ~,r ry h ; :!1 th.-md, ",r ,^ j ; ".V ' e > '' -" :; ■f;- : '' v ny cover;:;.- ail | -.ie o-Jei.-e ;: em Mombasa tc the Yip. .0.-ia Nyni 12i! . ami the p r „ S Tv>rt- SOT . rf j noloss tli:,:, 300 nnles cf new n ..-'lv,nv ] oeir.g opc-:;e-/.I south frcm Tvl-.r.rtonm I ann with roads k oc< ] t . fl ,- w , -j . ,' on between thrt late- *!-,.", ;,„\ '," ' ito he comim- near :, ■ .. p " i round " will be a form,dabl„ rival "to! , say, a -.-.vjss holiday !