OFF THE TRACK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 75, 25 May 1943, Page 5

OFF THE TRACK

STRANGE EXPSRIENCES

DEADLY STINGING TREE

Military parties find some strange experiences during patrols in the far north of Australia.

One party, swimming in the nude, accepted the invitation of. a native to go fishing in his canoe.. Half a mile out he pulled aside a rug in the bottom of the boat, and revealed his wife. Seeing the embarrassment of his guests, he sought to put them more at ease by taking off his own trousers. Another party found some stoneage blacks Avho kneAV nothing about the war, but gave them an antidote to the deadly stinging tree whose poisonous hairs drive horses mad and inflict injuries to humans, which persist for six months. All they have to do, they said, was to rub on the Avounds the leaves oF the ginger tree Avhich usually grew alongside the stinging tree.. Then there was the case of tliet bewildered. American. This officer, detailed for special duty, \A r as tokl to go to A* take a taxi from there to B and then stay at the best hotel until furher instructions reached him. He got to A and. found a ramshackle jetty surrounded by wilderness and Avas Avondering how he was to get to B. The party told him the only inhabitants of B—7o miles away—were four aged prospector? who lived in tiny shacks. He decided to return to check up.