ADVENTUROUS CRUISE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1924, Page 4

ADVENTUROUS CRUISE

LADY NOVELIST’S EXPERIENCES

AUCKLAND, June 10,

A wandering, adventurous cruise round the world, in which cargo steamers are always chosen in preference to lineis, and schooners before cither, is being made by Mrs Elinor Monlaunt. an English novelist who arrived at Auckland yesterday front Suva by the Tofua. Airs Mordauiit has written nearly twenty novels and a number of short stories. At present she. is endeavouring to see a- much of the world as she can, particularly outlying islands and places off the beaten track. Alis Alordaunt’s tour began from London. Crossing to Alarseillos she joined a French cargo steamer for the West Indies, "here she visited the French islands of Cnttdeloupe and Alar tiniiple. She visited St. Pierre, ill tin hitter island, a town which was entirely destroyed hv the fearful volcanic outbreak of Mount Pelce many years ago. The only man who escaped from that catastrophe was a negro criminal, who owed his preservation to being incarcerated in an underground cell. From AlartiniiHfe Alls Alordaunt "eut, to Colon, again in a French cargo steamer, and made the voyage via Panama to Tahiti. A month was spent in Tahiti j,iid then agreeing with Stevenson that the best way to see the ‘South Sea Islands was from the deck of a schooner she joined the .Monterey, a s. king vessel f| : , jug the flag of Panama. “\Yc had a glorious trip from Tahiti to Samoa and Tonga.’’ said Airs Alofdaunt, '‘although there "ere .some dis. inmlofts to put tin with. I wanted to .see the world in my own way. I used to sleep on deck, red the lire weeks T

spent in that schooner "ere full of intense interest. Me had a crew of Loyalty Ishnuh'is, at::l the captain, a must delightful man. Was a Swiss named L'tttr. 1 have met captains of a number ol nationalities, but never a Swi-s skipper before. I had to sign on as stewaulcss, rs the vessel was not a | .•■ssciigor ship, and I '.•aim'd 25 colds for the tiip.’’

Airs Alordaunt spent a week in Nukualofa end had interviews "ith the Queen of Tonga and the Pi into Minister. In Fiji, following her custom. Airs .Monlaunt set out to visit as many uilt of the way plates a- possible. Fart of her travels were made on hoisehaek, and finally she attained the upper real lies ot the river Mainiboka. During one week" ot her travels in the interior of Fiji she slept in a diiieivnt native village every night and nhc did not see another "bite person the "'hole time.

One thrilling advenDire happened on Sunday. June I. "hen she was making a shin t ieuiney in a native cutter. I lie crew mutinied and she had to couif lete the remainder of the journey in an

open boat at night time. It was flouring with mill and .she had eontiniiom ly to hale out the water during the live hours spent in tin: boat In-Poe the leached Navue. One of the cutter’s c;ew remained I oval to her and accompanied her in the boat.

Auer about a month's Hindering in the interior Airs Alordaunt at rived hack in Suva two days before she joined the Tofua for Auckland. She will remain here for a day er two and then probably visit Rotorua. rltel"a:ds luncecding to Wellington, "here she intendjoining another French cargo ship to take her to New Caledonia. It is then

tier intention to get. a pa.—age i! pc--slide in a schooner for the Solomon Is. lands and New 1 leln i ’e.s. She " ill visit T innsduy Island on luu way to New Cuii.ea. She "ill also make a slant stay at Roll Darv. in in the Northern Territory, and at lift onto. a

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