WORLD TRAVELLER

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 134, 3 December 1929, Page 13

WORLD TRAVELLER

AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE

MANY NARROW ESCAPES

Many adventures on his tour of tho world are recounted by Mr. Bohumil Pospisil, a Czeeho-Slovakian journalist, who, arrived from Hong Kong by the Changte, says the Sydney "Morning Herald." He says that in three years rp r^Sse^ many countries and covered 62,000 miles, and that he has broken the world's record of 25,000 miles starting from Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia, on 10th August, 1926 without a penny in his pocket, and with one suit of clothes, he set out with a determination to cross all continents and islands, and raise funds for his sustenance and travelling expenses on. hrnlT\n Hr^ tateSthat he has Pa^* through 50 different countries oh foot and by means of a variety of conveyances, ineludmg horses, camels, bul-lock-carts, donkeys, elephants, and motor-cars.

THE WORLD'S RECORD. •'Many efforts have been' made by !S?«ft oi ent Da«<«a]ities to f }l I tho worla s record," he said but many of them have returned home without success, and many excursions have ended in disaster. An effort was made by Mr. Podtatransky, a journalist, and a countryman of mine. Five years ago he set out with his wife and Iriend to cover 62,500 miles. Heavily armed, they attempted to cross the Arabian desert, but wore. overtaken by ™a v -i Podtat"nsky was killed and 2ns wife seriously wounded. In spite of this, I feltl must try to kcomphsh the world's record at any cost, for fear that victory might fall to sovne_ man of another nationality. Roving in tramp style, I have secured many thousands of photographs of costumes of natives, and scenery in various countries. lam collecting them for the purpose of lectures and books, and also for different educational societies, and for the Ministry of Education of tioned I have a special order in regard to Australia. b

■'•V n«,?urdistan>" continued Mr. Pospisil, 'I was attacked by fanatics, but to their surprise they found I was unarmed, and even without food. This was an unheard of thing, as no man dared to leave his village without arms and my life was saved. I crossed the Arabian desert on foot, and on donkeys and camels. I slept on the sand, and bartered with the Arabs for food On one occasion wandering Bedouins took my clothes and everything I possessed, and then let me loose to meet what they thought would be a slow death For four days I walked across .the desert m the nude, guiding myself by the sun. ana stars. Luckily it was the rainy season, but in the daytime I waa exposed to the burning sun. Only mv long hair saved me from sunstroke. At night I was prevented from sleeping by chilly *am. My feet were bleeding and I was nearly .mad. I lapsed into unconsciousness, and was picked up by the mysterious devil-worshippers who live in the mountainous oasis Djebel Smdjar. After recovering my strength, I proceeded on my way " '

KIDNAPPED AND BELEASED. +^ Mr' ,? 0.?P isil said that he passed through lo provinces in China. Kidnapping occurred daily in broad daylight, even in the strongly guarded settlements of Shanghai and Tientsin. Ho was kidnapped evidently for ransom. Among them he found a welleducated man who spoke good Enc- } lsh- //This fellow, probably the leader," he said, "explained to his colleagues my object in being in' China, and they expressed their regret. With exquisite Chinese courtesy they invited me to a feast of excellent foreign ham, sausages, chocolate, and French wines. They even offered me financial compensation, and I parted from them smoking a good Manila cigar. While in China I was given every assistance by officials."

"These are only a few of my adventures," he added, "and I am in high spirit to face many others within the next two years before reaching my native country. In spite of danger it is sometimes easier to obtain food, and transport in the wild countries than in the more civilised" ones. I look forward to hospitality in Australia, and intend to travel some thousands of miles cveriand. My object is to study farms, plantations, mines, and the aborigines, and I will take many photographs. Before leaving for thePacific Islands and America, I hope to write a book on my travels."