FROM THE CAPE TO CAIRO

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 196, 28 November 1910, Page 3

FROM THE CAPE TO CAIRO

THE OXLY WOMAX WHO D[D. There h ii.t present sojourning in New Plymouth, the celebrated world-wide traveller. Miss Mary Hall, who is more par-tit-nlarlv known as the only woman in the world who has passed through the most unknown parts of Central Africa. It is in her book, "A Woman's Trek,'' that the stow of iier adventurous journey from Capetown to Cairo can be found in full, but Miss Hall lias attained considerable success as a lecturer, and it was with the object of enquiring as to her intentions while here, and also of making "copy" for News readers, that a representative of the paper called upon Miss Hall at Sarnia House on Saturday afternoon. -v , .„, (i . A SKETCH. Miss Hall is a woman of peculiarly attractive mien; kindly eyes light up a clear, open countenance; a wealth of grey (almost white') hair is brushed straight back from a high, broad forehead; and as she talks the soft niellow'toned voice is as piquant sauce to the hungry listener. She has also a commanding appearance, being fairly tall and well proportioned. No wonder, then, that her lectures are distinctly entertaining; and as an index of her capacity to interest an audience it may be mentioned that in June last, 'when she lectured in the Wellington Town Hall, hundreds of people were unable to obtaJn admission. ' "OXLY TOO DELIGHTED."

Tn the course of a few minutes' chat with Miss Hall our representative gathered that she was here for a rest principally, having just concluded a very interesting tour of the Xorth Island,\lurinsr which she visited Xapier, Auckland, Mongouui Harbor, Rotorua and the Hot Lakes District, etc. She felt that a short time in Xew Plymouth, with all its beautiful scenic resorts and invigorating climate, would build her up for an extended trip round the South Island. However, if some public-spirited people took up the matter and wished her to give a lecture, she would be only too delighted to do so, but she did "not feel equal, at present, to undertaking all the work of arranging the entertainment. As to the lecture " itself. Miss Hall avoids touching, except lightly, upon the better known parts of Xorth and South Africa, although she has been through it all, and confines her remarks to places, of interest south, of the Zambesi, s U( ,]j as the great Zimbabivo ruins of Rhodesia; the Matoppos, the burial place of Cecil Rhodes; and Victoria Falls. She_ then plunges into the very heart of Africa, describing the everyday routine of caravan life; thrillinj'and interesting encounters with native tribes, and the perils and dangers successfully overcome. The route she most particularly deals with is the Zambesi, the Shire Highlands, the great lakes of Central Africa—Xyassa, Tanganyika and Victoria Xyanza—the Uganda railway, British East Africa, across the whole length of the Uganda Protectorate, travelling in a smali rowing boat from the first navigable point on the Xile to Ximuli, where the cataracts forced her to land againj until she reached Goiuloi'oko. whenee°the Xile becomes again available, to Khartoum. BY THE LAXTERX LIGHT. The journey occupied nine months, and Miss Hall can give some thrilling stories of her adventures on the road. °She has some rare pictures of .notable scenes through which she passed, and these are shown by lantern lisht and illustrate her remarks during the lecture. I

"I JUST WENT." '•The journey was made by me for pleasure," said Miss Hall; '■[ have always been fond of travelling. I was in the Cape when the idea of reaching Cairo by the overland route suggested itself, and I just made up my mind and went. I have travelled all ove'r the world, pretty well, except Soutk America—l have not been there, but I hope to go some day." GET BUSY, SOMEBODY.

'•You can say," said Miss Hall before parting "that I shall be glad to deliver my lecture in New Plymouth if, as I said, some public-spirited citizen will undertake the preliminary arrangements, such as procuring a suitable "lantern, hall, etc. At Wanganui I was considerably worried over the lantern going wrong, and I would not have such a thing happen here; therefore, if I am to give the lecture, someone will have to look- alter these matters for me." "A WOMAN'S TREK."

Miss Hall's book is now in its second edition. In it we learn further why she went, how sho managed her own caravan, and the reception accorded her by the Government officials. There is a description of three months spent under the German flag. Incidents connected with the daily life of the African missionary are touched upon. The introduction deals with South Africa, and British Central Africa, German East Africa, British East Africa, the Uganda Protectorate, and the Soudan follow in that order.