At the beginning of the century Professor I. F. Lorentz took a group of 890 men into the island, entering at Humboldt, They climbed as high a3 9,000 feet, and then were forced through' the ravages of malaria and beri-beri, as well as the attacks of cannibals and head-hunters, to turn back.
In 1911 A. F. Wallaston, an Engishman, entered from the' South.
His party 400 strong, which included carriers and pack-men, as well as a group of seiena way 40-miles into the sts, through swamps, bogs, hills and vine-laden trees. This Journey of 40 miles required just six months.
their journey' through the swamps they lost 12 per cent. their number from fevers and other disease. The fright of their savage-helpers and the shortage of supplies, forced them to come out. They were' not totally unsuccessful, however, for they managed to capture three pyamies, wont they photographed. The little people, only four to four-and-halt feet tall, would not lead them to their content with several pictures of these individuals, the expedition had to leave, Their reports indicate that these are the most primitive of peoples, their life is of the Old Stone Age period, simple and pastoral.
Great dificult was had in getting permission from the Dutch Government for the proposed venture and it was some time before the U. State Department could convince the authorities that the party was scientific. Once permission was granted, the Dutch gave the Stit-Expedition every possible asyneo, In return the party'are to make actual maps of the country er, which will be handed The mechanical equipment of the party is complete and modern to the last word. Nothing has been left to chance. Each specialist has got what he needed, under the general supervision of Mr. Stirling. The aeroplane is a Breguet model, of the same type as d'Oisy used in his Paris—Rome flight which it will be recalled, smashed at Kiangwan. It ig engined with a Liberty 400 h.p. motor and carries five passengers and a useful load of 2,300 Wb. Attached: to the machine is refrigerating. plant, which will bring astempetature' in 15 minutes so low as to make several inches of frost—the purpose being to preserve chemicals and food and photographic materials. A one—horse-power motor is adequate for this, Tear Bombs for Defence Another new feature of the mechanical equipment is the tear gas bombs, which, hunters over a considerable area. The gun is shaped like a billy and contains 10 cartridges. For close quarters all members will carry 45 Colt automatics, while Springfield rifles have not been forgotten.
The animals, with the possible exception of snakes and boars, as far as their knowledge goes, will not prove troublesome. The rifles should stop all unlocked-for attacks from quadrupeds.
Four members of the party flew the aeroplane from the Atlantic coast to San Francisco and got along without trouble, but for. a forced landing in Omaha, due to a blizzard. They crated the machine before it was placed on the Grace Dollar, It will be picked up Sourabaya, but will not be ase bled until the arrival at their 1,600 miles. distant.
The pygmies are living, according to the reports of the Wallaston Ex-edition, not more than 4,000 feet above sea level. In the immediate vicinity, the report continues, is a large lake, so it is believed that a plane, equipped with both wheels and floats, will have no great diffi culties to overcome. With this Jake as an outer base—the hom: base will be on the seashore—the men propose to establish themselves, become acquainted with their subjects, learn the language and get all possible data. They are to stay inland for six months.
The Expedition's Aims In any event, the use of the plane will be a most interesting experiment for this type of scientific Some of the principal objectives of the expedition are as follow:
To reach the great precipice of Make exact measurements of ts height 0 if ponies to and extent, the first time, coast and' mountain Papa: to" learn their customs
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.