WHY THE ZAMBESI?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 898, 18 August 1910, Page 5

WHY THE ZAMBESI?

NEW FORM OF ADVERTISEMENT. (By Sylvius.) The first sculling race for tho championship of the world ever held on the great continent of Africa will be rowed on the Zambesi River to-day..' Why the Zambesi? people will ask, for going to row,, fight, or kick a football in Central Africa is a trend exactly the reverse from that usually followed by promoters of big sporting events. Curiously enough the same reason that tempts such men, to givo their performances in or ■handy, to a large population has brought about the race on the Zambesi—money! People interested in the country'have put up a large enough purse, and have offered both winner and loser enough to' induco them to dispense- with a "gate," which is ,tu dear to the henrt of every true professional. Doubtless the gentlemen so interested concluded that the holding of the sculling race on. the Zambesi (justabove the famous Victoria Falls) would be a fine' advertisement for that part of the ■ world—so the Zambesi it is. The fact engenders the thought that we may expect to hear of Johnson fighting Lang lor the boxing championship at Tibet, or that Lindrum will bo found giving points to Roberts at billiards inTimtmctoo;

Of to-day's nice it must be admitted that its location has tabbed it of n certain amount of interest which would be fostered through the medium of tho cable it the race were being held within the liale of civilisation.. A few cable messages have' leaked through from tho heart of Africa from time to time, telling us that, both men are doing well, and that Arnst feels like a winner. In such a peculiar climate as that of Livingstone, where malaria rises and smites one down within tho hour, it is impossible to foresee eventualities, but assuming, that Ani'st is in as, good form as 'when he rowed Whelch at 'Akaroa a few months ago, the chances of-beating the slim Englishman, Ernest. Barry, are. in his favour. The New-. Zealander put on a. lot of weight on the.journey to Africa. -~he weighed lSst. 31 b. at Cape • Town— which -would take a deal of pulling.down, bnt Arnst has proved before that he can get down to n reasonable rowing weight (though ho is the heaviest sculling chainpion the world has known), and should be able to do it again.' Later he will not bo able to do so—that will be Dick Arnsl's end! ■ ',

Still, the conqueror of Pearce, Webb, and AVholch should win to-day. I anticipate, no other result, bar accidents. He is a' mighty oarsman—hot ~as pretty in a boat as Ned Hanlon or Bih Webb— bnt he is a great 100 horse-power tireless engine, who so far has never been extended to his fullest capacity. If that happens on the- Zambesi, he will probably be found below-Hie-Falls! .