THE PAPUAN EXPLORERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3174, 21 March 1911, Page 5

THE PAPUAN EXPLORERS.

FURTHER DETAILS OF PRIVA-

TION ENDURED

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT.] SYDNEY, March 20.

Later details show that Mr Staniforth Smith’s party reached Thursday Isand early on Friday. Owing to St. Patrick’s Day holiday, they had to wait till next day to get news through. The explorers had a great reception. It transpires that when the party had nearly .reached the mouth of the Ivikori river, they met one of the relief boats. They were in a very exhausted condition, owing to their long, rough travels and scarcity of food. When the raft went over the rapids the three white leaders had a narrow escape. They were carried a long way down the river —Mr Smith scrambling out on one side and Messrs Pratt and Bell on the other. The native carriers who were swept off the raft were never again seen. The party lost all their supplies, tents and records of the journey. Their only food was a litte cocoa recovered from the wreck, yams, taro, and; sago gathered en route. They were frequently compelled. to stop to recover strength and gather food. They shot some pigs, but refrained from eating much meat for fear of sickness. Another trouble was that they had no means of lighting a fire. Mr Pratt bad a box of matches, which were wetted when he plunged into the river. After some days they were dried, and they got a light. In oredr to save the few remaining matches in case of emergency, they carried, a piece of burning wood for thirty-four days wherever they went. After reaching the relief boat, which was sent out by the Resident Magistrate at Goaribari, they carefully dieted themselves for fear of illness after their long fast. Only the three whites came on to Thursday'lsland. The native members of the expedition were left at Darn.