THE HOLLAND JAMBOREE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 37, 6 November 1937, Page 16

THE HOLLAND JAMBOREE

Those of you who were present last Friday saw some slides of the Scout jamborce in England iu 1929, and in Australia at Christmas, 1934, nero I am going to give you a deseription of the international jamboree in Holland this year, taken from the editor's logbook in "The Scout." fHere I am sitting in the little room in the house which has idone duty as jamboreo hcadquarters trying to put down on paper some of the impressions I have had in ten days of kootia

living. But first, I must say a word about our Dutch brother Scouts, whose hard work aud enthusiasm made Vogelenzang our happy hunting ground, and a word, too, for the kindly Dutch people who did everything possible to help us and to make our stay in Holland enjoyable. "Through a tree-lined avenue you reach the entrance to the camp itself, and enter by the grass track bordered on either side with small trees and gay flags to the market, where shops of all kinds sell many things, from ice-cream to souvenirs, a hair-eut to a cornplaster, where you can buy postage stamps or change your money. "Turning to the left on emerging from the market you soon find yourself iu the first of the sub-eamps, and then begins a'continuous mass of tents of all shapes and' sizes, kitchens, food shelters, gateways, ndtice .boards, towers, native huts and buildings, windmills, bridges — all the work of Scouts, and mado from wood and lashed on the spot with rope. "Day aiter day in tlie vast arena, bounded on three sides by huge stands, which were invariably lilled with oxcitod and thrilled spectators, the Scouts of the world marched past with flags fiying. Aud every day a proprammo of Scoutcraft, pageants, national and folk dancing was given. "The daily performances in the world theatre have been of high standard. "Each night there were camp-fires in Ihe sub-camps, and several large camp-fires open to tho public, crowds of 20,000 to 30,000 . people being attracted to these. First, bearers of flags of the different nations took up a position at the back of the raised platform, then a group of Scouts armed with bows and drills set to work to produce fire witlicut matches. "Eire being obtained, torchcs wero lit from the flaming tow, and these, carried by four Scouts, were applied to the camp:fire, which was soon blazing merrily. This ceremony was carried out with a suitable incantatioD. Viewed from the back it was an amazing sight— fow on row of races rising tier npoa tior in the basin-like kollow mntij ,

they reached the sky-line. You can imagine the effect when the camp-fire leader had everyone singing and doing actions. 'No story of a • jamboreo would be complete without mention of the inspiring religious services. Ten thousand Catholic Scouts gathered before a beautiful High Altar for services on both - Sundays, - a.id • there were • special services for Jewish . aud Protestant Scouts. Our own contingent held- a wonderful Scout 's Own in the arena on the second Sunday, and many attended the special. service in St. Bavo's • Church at Maarlem on the first Sunday. "On the last day shortly after twelve o'ciock tlie Scouts began to march into the arena, and it was not until just before' the Ckief Scout was due to arrive that all were in position. In the brilliant sunshine the arena looked magnilicent. Against the tall flagstaff in the centre ivas a giant model of the Jacob's Staff, the old-time Dutch navigator's compass ; ' which has been the badge symbol of this wonderful Jamboree. ■ Placed just in front of it was a smali raised platform, from which the Chief was later to speak. "The March Past' began, this time with tiweden leading; the other contingents following without ,any particular order, but instead of.marcliing around and out of tlie arena as had. been. the practice, they kept wheeling round and round until the whole space.of the vast arena was occupied by marching Scouts circling liko a gigantic revolving wheel. an amazing and brilliantiy colourful spectacle. At last ■ a solid circle was massed round the small platform iu the centre.