DANGERS OF THE DESERT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1926, Page 3

DANGERS OF THE DESERT

(By Captain Angus Buchanan; the Explorer, Author of “Sahara;”) Water! A little word in our everyday lives, yet big with significance of Life and Death in the terrible heat of tbe pitiless desert. The report that tuo motor-cars have recently disappear, ed while crossing the Sahara brings vividly to mind the suffering and tragedy that await those alio fail to find it,

In eases of hunger tlio first day is the hardest to bear.- When tlio sharp pangs pass there is only a dull resignation that may be endured for days, despite it weakening in physical strength. It is not so with thirst, which, behind swollen lips and tongue, inflicts its awful torture within a single day, or even a few hours, beneath the tyrant sun that beats down upon the desert with relentless intensity. There are two grave dangers to trans-B'aharan motor travel ■ the danger of losing the May and encountering impassable country, and the danger of irreparable breakdoah between anter-ing-places that, by callicl or on foot, are five to seven days apart. One can readily picture a hat happens if ears have to be abandoned oil such a venture. A few galvanised tanks of Mater and an Army Mater-bottle or two are likely to be the travellers’ equipment.

Suddenly faced witli a tuo or threeday’s struggle on foot to reach a known well-head or oasis, the unfortunate wayfarers must face the journey with such Matter as they can carry on their backs. This all depends on the adaptable receptacles they possess. In all probability these Mill be only their M-nter-bottles, for it Mould be impossible to stagger forth carrying such a burden as a galvanised tank. No matter what' resolutions are made to abstain, any meagre supply of Mater vanishes in the desert before the end of a day, and then . , .

During my expedition in 1919-1920 f passed close to the spot udiere General Laperrine met his death in attempting to cross the Sahara by aeroplane. 1 encountered a French officer at the time the search parties of Mehnrists (Camel Corps) found the ’plane. ‘‘Lnpemnc was dead,” lie told me. ‘He had been hurt in tbe crash. Tlio two mechanics were so far through that they had punctured the arteries in their arms to drink their own blood. General Laperrine. aim knew more about tho Sahara than any other European, said to the mechanics before lie lied; ‘I thought I knew the desert, hut I Mas mistaken!’ ”

If a motor expedition could carry a. camel as :ui “emergency part” the M'ayfarer in tho event of breakdown would have every chance of reaching a place of succour. For the camel lias not been misted from the desert yet, and the success of a recent motor-car expedition Mas largely due to the camels used in investigating the route and establishing petrol stations before the venture Mas made. I encountered the- trail ol this expedition north of Ahaggar at the end of my journey 'across the Sahara in 1922-1923, and gaped in woiitlernieiil at the first wheel tracks I had seen for 15 months, and the only M'lieel tracks I had ever seen marking the sands of the desert.