INDO-CHINA ADVENTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1929, Page 7

INDO-CHINA ADVENTURE

'BY -MOTOR TO MANDALAY. ORCHID HUNT IN JUNGLE. EXPLORER\S TRIUMPH. The climbing of a mountain never before ascended by a white man and the finding of fine specimens of the orchid, and other plants at the summit was one of the adventures and triumphs of Captain E. KingdonWard, the explorer, who returned to England after a IdCO-mile hunt for rare plants in Indo-China. The trip occupied five months and was packed with thrilling, experiences. Captain Kingdon-Ward related some of his adventures to a representative of the “Daily Telegraph.” Originally, lie explained, the scheme was that lie should join with two American expeditions through French IndoChina for hunting and trapping. These two parties were led respectively by the son of Mr Coolidge, cxl’resident of the United States and by Air, Kermit and Air Theodore Roosevelt, adventurous sons of a famous father. Delays by rain and sickness caused tiro breakdown of this plan. Captain Kingdon-Ward did not meet the Roosevelt expedition until he reached Saigon, at the end of his journey. The Coolidge party he fell in with at Hue, capital of Annam, Consequently he travelled through Indo-China alone, except for his coolies, ON THE EtfGE OF SPACE.

Starting for Mandalay Captain Kingdon-AVard went by motor lorry to Kengtung, a distance of 400 miles of road that was no more than a more dirt-track. The route lay over the Shan mountain range, and rose to a height of 6000 ft. The motor lorry used could cover no more than 33 miles a day. At intervals the natives cut down trees and cleared away bushes to make a track for the lorry. Dangerous turnings and narrow bridges added to the adventures of the road, which the native driver had never travelled before. A MOUNTAIN CLIMB.

“On the way,” said Captain King-don-Ward, “I had some wonderful views of forests, mountains and valleys. When I approached the highest peak in the range, one of 8000 ft, and still unnamed, 'I decided to make the ascent. At the first attempt my Kaw guides became absolutely lost, with the result that we spent a wretched night on the mountain, without either food or shelter. I returned to a native village at the foot, and two days later, with another batch of coolies, this time with tents and food, I tried again. Tills time I reached the summit, on wliTch no white man had ever before set foot. There is no view to be had, for the forest reached the very peak, but I found specimens of fine orchids and rare rhododendrons, magnolias and other trees.”

Leaving British territory, Captain Kingdom Ward crossed the wide River Mekong by raft, and entered Laos, in French 'tido-China. Here, at Mnong Sing, ho was attacked by fever, and was incapacitated for a month, attended only by an Annamite doctor. As soon as he was fit again he crossed a mountain range to the Mantka River and took a canoe. Striking • Mekong again, the explorer and his coolies embarked on a bamboo raft and sailed down the river, the frail craft often threatened with disaster.

Through gorgeous scenery, sometimes of impassable forest and at other times in gorges the sides of which towered a thousand feet above their heads, the party journeyed for four days before reaching Luang Prabang. Then, transferring to another raft, they continued their hazardous voyage down the swift river for another ten days to Vien Tiane, headquarters of the French Administration in Laos. FACING DISASTER.

At times, on that second portion of the river journey, the explorer encountered a series of treacherous rapids extending for a mile. Despite the exercise of the greatest skill, the. raft was sometimes caught by the swirling waters. Captain IvingdonWard described the rapids as like “a descending series of staircases.” Owing to its rocky bed, the Mekong is for a long distance impassable for even small steamers, although its width varies from 600 to 80Q yards. At Vien Tiane, however, Captain Kingdon-W'ard was able to hoard the private launch of the Governor of Laos in which he sailed to a point whence lie could join the motor road which runs east for 250 miles to the China Sea. Ju the course of his five months’ travels Captain Kingdon-Ward discovered about fifty varieties of the orchids, many of which he believes to be new. He also found many tropical climbing plants hitherto unknown to him.