LOST IN THE BUSH.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1920, Page 7

LOST IN THE BUSH.

ON THE SLOPES OF MT. EGMONT. TRYING EXPERIENCES. Three North Taranaki farmers had a very hard and trying time in the bush during the stormy wet, weather of last week. The ordeal might easily have proved fatal to more than one of the party. During the past winter these farmers had lost trace of quite a number of cattle, and, as their properties are close to the Egmont Forest Reserve, they decided on searching the reserve to recover at least some of the lost animals. Some £-250 to £3OO wortlj of young and store cattle being missing they decided on a week's search. Taking only a few essentials in the way of food and a couple of billies and a frying pan for cooking, they set out on foot, accompanied by three dogs. They had rifles and ammunition, upon which they depended for meat—shooting pigs,' or goats, or if these did not show up, birds, and perhaps a head or two of the wild cattle that abound in several portions of the reserve. After several hours' travel through the bush over very rough gully country the rain came on. A heavy mist set down, and this made it impossible to proceed far, as the party could not see any distance.

LOST AND. HUNGRY. After waiting for an hour or two for the wet weather to ease up, it was decided to abandon the trip and return home. The rain increased, and as they attempted to retrace their steps' they very soon fouuili thdmselves bushofd, and could not (because of the mist) j locate any of the gullies or spurs. They reached the bottom of a ravine, and attempted to cross the stream there. The flood waters, however, had turned the stream into a raging torrent, and the life of one of the party was only saved by a mate going to his assistance. After being swept downstream, thev managed the crossing somehow, however, and travelled on, not knowing whither. Several other creeks were crossed at considerable risk. By this time they had lost their tucker bags and cooking equipment, and night was coming on. They were drenched to the skin and hungry. One of the party climbed a tree to (try and get thje'ir bearings. When well up the tree a branch, snapped and precipitated him into" a gully. His mates could not locate him until lie fired off his rifle, which he had managed to retain during his fall. They decided to search for a hollow tree and pass the night as well as possible. They were lucky in finding a tree with wide-spreading roots and a hollow at the foot which promised Shelter from the pouring rain. They crawled into this retreat, and one filled his pipe and struck a match. The shelter was secure enough, but all around the inside of the hollow tree were numbers of scorpions and wetas, and the party decided against speeding the night amongst thjese ioatfejome-l looking creatures. They then went down to tlie gully bottom, and found a stone ledge on the river bank which gave some degree of shelter from the driving rain. The ledge was quite two feet above the river, and they considered themselves fairly safe from the rising waters. After spending a couple of ,hours on the. Mg e , however, the. water began to wash around their feet. It was too dark and dangerous to leave, jso they clung to their perilous position. Before daylight dawned the stream had become a raging swirl of waters which reached to their thighs. At the first streak of dawn they were able to leave their dangerous and uncomfortable position and make for higher ground. The rain had not abated, and weary, hungry and cold, they once more set out to try and locate some ciiaracteristic of the 1 country that would give them the cue to their whereabouts. Hour after hour thev wandered about, and they only succeeded in getting themselves still further Into unknown localities. They climbed over ridges, and crossed several creeks and streams. At one of these streams they had to leave two of the dogs, as the animals would not face the flood waters.

| RAW GOAT AS FOOD. i Late in the day they located some wild goats, and were fortunate enough to bring one down with a rifle-shoV*lv this time the party was just about all. in. They had no cooking utensils, and had very great difficulty in getting a fire started owing to the sodden condition of the wood. However, they were ravenously hungry by this time and they were not very particular. The goat meat was little better than sccrched on the outside, as the rain extinguished their lire. The food w.-s hungrily devoured, and they decided to camp for the night on high 'ground. Fortunately, the weather was not cold, and they slept the sleep of complew exhaustion where they lay. Next morning after a further meal of raw gcat flesh, they stumbled on through the mist and rain, striving to find their way out. About ten o'clock thev were thoroughly worn out, and had still no idea of their Whereabouts, and thought all chance of getting out were about gone. After an hour's spell they again set out and one of the party discovered a cattle track. This trail led down to lower country, and. after following it for a couple of hours., the mist lifted and they were able to get their bearings and make for one of their homes. After a good meal and a change into dry clothing they tumbled into lied in a condition of absolute exhaustion. They were still soundly asleep 23 hours after, when they were awakened, and made to.partake'of a further meal.

Beyond being stiff and sore from their wanderings over the difficult country, the three settlers were- little the worse for their trying experience and prolonged exposure. Their clothes and boots, however, were torn to shreds, and their legs and arris scratched and torn while milking their way through the thick undergrowth on the ranges. During tho whole time of their lost wanderings they found they had not been more than three or ' four miles from their own farm boundaries, but the mist had been so heavy as to blot i out all fe-.umts of the landscape with' which tlicv were familiar. The trio intend to make further search for I heir missing cattle, but have decided to wait for a few weeks, when thev hope to be aide to make the hunt under more propitious weather conditions