A REMARKABLE CRUISE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9465, 7 June 1909, Page 8

A REMARKABLE CRUISE.

Oae of the most remarkable voyages ever made by a British cruiser stands to the credit of H.M. S Pelorna, which recently steamed through Brazil up the great Amazon river across the frontier of Peru, anchoring 2300 miles from the Atlantic coast and only 400 miles from the Pacific. The Pelorus is a fast little cruiser of 1100 tons, and it was because of her light draught that she was selected for the voyage ■up the Amazon. She called first at Para, at .the mouth of the river, obtaining what, charts were available and taking on board several local pilots, Then she steamed into the great river. She fmade steady progress against the stream, and in twelve days reached Manaros, above the junction Rio Negro. The journey was a novel one, for thong!) the

difficulties of navigation were not great the conditions were all new to the blue water sailor Men were in the chains all day long! but there was always plenty of water, and the river is so wide that the bends caused no trouble. The Pelorus steamed during the daytime and anchored at sundown, generally close

to a town. The heat of the evenings was very oppressive, and the mosquitos arove the men below dceks. Manaros turned out in force to welcome the cruiser. The newspapers struggled manfully to print their compliments in English. Every cafe was free to the visitors, and money tendered by the sailors was never accepted. Festivities had been arranged for each day, football and cricket matches were played and formal and informal banquets seemed to be always in progress. After ten days the voyage was continued up the river. There was a brief stay at Tabatinga, the frontier town, and two days later the cruiser anchored at Iqulos, in Pern, 3800 miles from the mouth of the Amazon. For seven crowded days the visitors wore entertained right royally. JThe return voyage occupied fourteen days. The Pelorua left Para on January 12tb and reached it again on March 9th, leaving the Amazon ultimately on March 14th,