ESCAPING THE BOXERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11028, 17 March 1914, Page 8

ESCAPING THE BOXERS.

EIGHT HUNDRED MILES ON FOOT. THE BACK BLOCKS OF CHINA. DOCTOR'S EXCITING TALE. A light-built man, with a spare figure, bluo ryes, grey moustache, and an exceptionally quiet and retiring manner, came clown from his rooms at a Cluistehureh hotel yesterday when a <- 'Sta'r" reporter sent his card up to l.)r R. Logr.r. .Tack, who has a very high reputation as un Australian geologist and explorer. He was Government Geologist in Queensland for twenty-two years, but fifteen years ago ho retired from the position. He lives in Sydney, and now ho is touring New Zealand for thesake of Mrs Jack, who wishes to escape the Commonwealth's trying weat her at this : season of the year. The visitors have been to the southern lakes, and they will spend a feiv days in Christehureh before going - on to Wellington, on their way baelc to Australia. Geology is usually regarded as one of the dry-as-dust sciences, but J)r Jack's' career shows that some very stirring incidents may be crowdrd into .its study. In the enrly, days'of Queensland, for instance, his explorations led him into the wilcK On .several occasions troubles with the natives were unavoidable, and as a memento of one Of these he carries with him a spear wound he received from the hands of a hostile member of a tribe. The most notable incident of his career, however, was in China, after ho had retired from the position of Government ■ Geologist in Queensland. Ho led an expedition into Korea and China in the interests of an English .company, but the Boxer trouble broke out and he was ordered by the British Consul to leave tlioA place bo was at. on the hanks of the Yalung, n tributary of the Yamrtse. and make his n ay as best he could to British Burmah. There were five Europeans in 1 tho party. They trnvelled 800 irules mostly on fool, along tho spurs oi tho great Himalaya 'Mountains, passing through districts inhabited by the Loio people, who, it is believed, were the original inhabitants of part of China, but wore dispossessed by the Chinese, j and were driven beck into the mounI tains. I)r Jack's journey is described in a fascinating book of travel. ''Tho Back Blocks of China," but yesterday ho chatted interestingly of his journey, which, he said, was an experience- he would not like to have missed. Tho Chinese officials treated him very well. They gave him guards, who took the party from village to village. In addition. proclamations Merc sent on ahead, asking tho people to bo courteous to the strangers and to help them on their way. The Lolas'! lie said, were very different from the Chinese in appearance. ideas and customs. 'Jheir skins were as white- as those of dark Europeans, and their--cheeks were red. They were, in fact, more like Hungarians than Mongolians. In dress, also, they resembled Europeans/ He bad some illustrated journals with; him. and when photographs of actresses were shown to the Lolos, they claimed the ladies as members of their own race. The men spent most of their time hunting, the women .working. The men were warlike, but well dispositioned. Their anus were a strange assortment. Somo bore the cross-bow. others the ordinary 'bow with poisoned arrows, others halberds and tridents, others match-locks, flint-locks and even converted Enfields. It was not until ho was near Burmah that ho saw men with "Winchester rifles. The party had to carry it,s.own j.rovisions. It saw little game ot any kind, even birds being; rare. On <neoccasion a. Loio chief invited Pr Jack to take part in a tiger hunt, but the traveller was anxious to reach the end of his journey, and declined tho offer, which was made in all kindness. The roads were indescribably bad, and, although horses and chairs were provided by the Chinese officials, progress was so slow that it was felt that walking was preferable to riding. But if tho roads were execrated, the. immense bridges excited great admiration. There was hardly a river., including vast streams like the Yangtse, the Saluen, tho Mekong and the Irrawadi, -that ; wns not bridged, and every form of bridge known to engineering' and every form of arch known to architecture was represented. s Most of I)r Jack's geological work in Australia, has been connected with mining, but he has studied the theoretical side of the question.' and has taken a prominent part in schemes for obtaining supplies of artesian water m Australia. His first visit to New 7 Zealand was made some years ago, when he met the late Captain F. W. Hutton, Sir James Hector and other New Zealand geologists. At Paradise, in Otago, he did a little geological work, but lie lias not yet had *in.opportunity to go up into the -hills in Canterbury and see the kind of stuff they are made r>f '