PLAYED YO-YO.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 661, 14 January 1933, Page 7

PLAYED YO-YO.

Surprising Pygmies in Libyan Desert. BRITISH EXPEDITION’S TRIPLONDON, December 6. A first-hand account of the adventures of the British expedition, led by Major R. A. Bagnold, which is now returning from its exploration of the South Libyan Desert, was given by Lieutenant G. L. Prendergast, in an interview at Cairo. Lieutenant Prendergast, who is a member of the expedition, left the party at Wady Haifa, in the Sudan, and came on as advance guard to Cairo. He declared that the scientific results of the trip, which has lasted two months, have come up to expectations, and would form the subject of a report by Major Bagnold later. In addition to Major Bagnold and Lieutenant Prendergast, the members of the expedition are: Dr K. S. Sandford, of Oxford University; Mr W. O. K. Shaw, late of the Sudan Forestry Service; Major J. H. Boustead, commanding the Sudan Camel Corps; Captain V. F. Craig, Royal Engineers; Lieutenant R. N. Harding-Newman, Royal Tank Corps; and Lieutenant D. R. Paterson, Royal Corps of Signals. Shrivelled Pygmies. Major Bagnold, Lieutenant Paterson, Major Boustead and Mr Shaw climbed Mount Uweinat, which is between 4000 and 5000 feet high, the plateau at the top being ten miles across. This was a most difficult operation, the party having to carry a two-gallon tin of water all the way to the summit to refresh themselves, each taking turns to carry it for twenty minctes. They found a well at Sarra 200 feet deep, which was dug by the inhabitants of the Kufra many years ago. When the party visited Takro, a well in French Equatorial Africa, they found two shrivelled-up black pygmies who came from Ouanyanga. Lieutenant Prendergast was the yo-yo champion of the party, and taught the pygmies to play the game, to their great delight. They also laughed heartily at pictures in English motorcar and aeroplane magazines. It was expected that traces of Guraan raiders, the “ Rob Roys of the desert,” known also as “ the people of the rocks,” would be found in the Murdi depression and the Wadi Guro-Guro. The explorers proceeded cautiously, keeping a sharp look-out night and day without meeting the raiders. An ostrich’s nest with a sitting bird in it with twenty-six eggs inside was seen, and there were also many gazelle of various sorts. After crossing the Wadi Hawa, the expedition eventually reached Kuttum, following a very difficult passage, during which they were tormented by prickly barbs of heskenit grass which found a way into the cars. The barbs resembled clusters of five little arrows. This lasted for several days. The first thing the party did at the end of a day’s run was to assist each other in The cars were often punctured by the thorns. Proceeding north, they came to the Malha Crater—3ooft deep, with springs at the bottom, where cattle in large numbers were watering. From here they went on to Bir Natrun, thence to the Merga oasis. There were traces of a recent Guraan camp in this region, and a native drum was found. Unwashed For Day*. When the expedition left Uweinat for Beacon Point the convoy carried enough petrol, water, and food for 18 days. No washing was, however, allowed, and the explorers were glad when they obtained their first wash for twelve days in very muddy water at Kuttum. No water was issued for washing at any time, the ration of five pints per man daily being purely for drinking purposes. No tents were carried, the party sleeping under the stars every night. While the explorers were lunching in the shade of a rock between Kharga and Uweinat, a rusted spear, a knife, and a sword in a scabbard and a little bag of beads were found. Several times sites of prehistoric man with flint implements strewn about were discovered. The daily luncheon consisted of a tin of fruit among eight, biscuits, butter and cheese, and a pint of water apiece with lime juice. By the time the party get back to Cairo they will have covered 6300 miles.