IN WILD PLACES

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1930, Page 8

IN WILD PLACES

THROUGH JUNGLE WASTES. MURDER MADE EASY. Adventures in strange parts of Central America and British West Indies, some of them reminiscent of the tales of 0. Henry, have fallen to the lot of Mr Joseph Hunt, who at one time was in business in Wellington, and was connected with amateur theatricals and racing. Before coming to New Zealand lie was a jockey in England; but gave up riding because of an accident that befel him. Writing from Jamaica to a friend in Wellington Mr Hunt says that after depart'ng from Wellington in 1927 lie was induced to leave.his ship gt Balboa. After ten years out of the .saddle he started to ride again and did extremely well finishing third on the winning list at the close of the season. He then joined an American exploring expedition through the jungle of Panama, which was organised with the hope of finding relics of. the Inca, civilisation and also to prospect for gold. A GOLD BUBBLE. ‘•Days ami nights we trudged through dense mangrove swamps.. and bush, ne irly being eaten alive by mosquitoes apd insects at night and by pumas, jaguars, and anacondas (huge snakes) by day,” he writes. “We followed the Tuequesa River from.the mouth to the source, up hill and down dale, through an Indian village, and putting up after three days at the small town of Ysaye. Here we were entertained by the alcalde (mayor of the town.) What little civilisation has penetrated to these wild regions is too humorous, ever to forget. Men and women just wear a fibre mat. When we gave a jacket and trousers away, one native would wear the jacket and another the trousers. Little Tich was never funnier.

“We discovered gold along the Tuecuesa and I thought we had struck a Klondyke, but from the survey reports the yellow metal proved to have no com mercial value. We caught and trapped some very fine specimens of animals, birds and reptiles,, which are now inmates of the New York Zoo. Pottery from. the graves of Indians were sent to the Smithsonian Institute and orchids to the Missouri Horticultural Society. On our return the crowd, went back to the States and I went to England.”

After six months in England , Mr Hunt received a cabled call to return to Panama, which lie did, and after the racing season lie jqine.c} a party of tourist-s for a trek through Columbia. “Oh, what a hole! Although not as bad as others which it was my fate to be in at a later date,” lie writes. “From Medalin we went to Curacao and had the luck to see the, ship arrive that was. to cause a ton of trouble—the German ship Falke. It captured'the whole garrison and then off to .start a revolution in Venezuela.” He returned to Panama, where he joined the “Panama America,” one of the local papers. On the staff was Mr Ted Scott, late of Wellington. MURDER—-THE> T A DRINK “Adventures and incidents followed with a regular beat. 1 found life very full and interesting. 1 remained until December and then came on to Jamica. In Jamaica he rode with fair success and then broke a leg, had a spell in< hospital, rode a big winner, fell and was kicked in the stomach and again invalided. “I decided it was time for a change of luck and scenery so I left for Honduras. Oh! what a hole. Settled now for,a time: in San.Pedio Sula. 1 went through hell, On Christmas Eve L was walking from the Plaza when bang went a revolver and down went a man stiff. I, looked round and saw a man blow the smoke .away from the barrel of his revolver, which he then put in his pocket and calmly strolled into a bar for a,drink. Another shot whizzed past me but 1 was too breezy to seo who had sent it. I soon got to bed, amid a din of exploding revolvers and Chinese crackers. “In Honduras there is no capital punishment, and providing you keep your killing outside influential men and grafting politicians you can kill as many people a.s you please. Several men were pointed out to me who had from I four to seventeen scalps to their credit —or discredit. The Tom Mix and Duck Jones rough shooting pictures really originate from the doings of the "onth American republics! On New Years Day I was returning home on j my horse and going across the Pla.'ta. 1 A gramophone was playing ‘My Blue Heave”.’ and I started dreaming of home when bang went a revolver just behind me. It was the greatest piece of luck I did not hit the deck. I gathered my wits and retreated home as fast as decency would allow.”