The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
WORK FOR PIONEERS
Great Areas of the Globe Are
to Be Explored.
NOTHING IS KNOWN OF THEM
More Pioneer Labor Must BE Done
in south America Than Any Other
COntinent-Dr. Stein VIII Search
Tibet for Treasure While on Scien-
tihc Expedition in that Land.

From the CHEZ European Correspondent Of tbs
IaHan News Bureau.
London, Jan So-Few people probably
realize the great areas on nearly all the
continents which still await the tread Of
the pioneer. That there still remains
plenty OF scope for research on the face
Of this globe is brought yividly to the
mind by an interesting story Of new
and projected exploring expeditions
Southeastern Arabia is one OF the re-
gions which await the pioneer. Here.
embraced within a line drawn north
from Alden to Nejd and another eastward
10 the peninsula called Fl Katr, is an
area Of some 10000 square miles II is
largely occupied by the Roba Ell Khali
the Dwelling Of the Void" probably the
most forbidding desert on the face OF the
earth. The southern border has been ex-
plored. but the desert Itself has been
untrodden, except, perhaps, by hurrying
Bedouins. Now G. " Bury, an expert
enced Arabian traveller, proposes TO make
an extensive expedition into the unknown
interior. examining ruins and buried
cities on his way.
To Seek Treasure.
In Tibet DR.. Stein viii follow DR.. Sven
Hedin While the main object-the search
FOR the treasures that have been buried
for centuries under the ever-encroaching
sand-is archaeological. he regards gee
graphical exploration as Of the FIRST i'm
pOrtance.
Several African expeditions are planned,
some OF considerable magnitude, but, as
the writer IN the Times remarks. "one
might walk over any part of Africa now
without meeting with adventures. IN
less. indeed. one provoked them. But
Mr.. Virscher wiz make another attempt
10 reach the Tibesti highlands, the prac-
ticalIy unexplored mountain range which
runs for some 20 miles northwest from
Oar Fur into the heart OF the sahara
More pioneer work perhaps remains
10 be done IN South America than IN any
other continent. for here probably some
100000 square miles are still unexplored. %
But after all 1t Is around the polar re
gions more than elsewhere that popular
curiosity still hovers. since these are
still surrounded with a veil OF mystery"
Work in south Seas.
In the south polar area Lieut. shackle-
tons expedition is stu at work. What
he has accomplished cannot be known
until March or April, when It Is hoped
that the Nimrod viii return 10 New
Zealand either with the expedition on
board or with the information that
shaekleton has DECIDED 20 continue his
work for another year.
For most people It Is the far. far north
that has the greatest fascination Here
Commander Peary IS now in the thick
Of his difficulties. The next expedition
which has the greatest interest for geo
ographers is that proposed by Capt Ro-
aid AmUndsen- He hopes 70 obtain from
the Norwegian government the loan az
the Fran for an expedition on which he
viii be prepared 70 spend six years.
Capt Amundsen, proposes to leave Nor
way next year and make his way in the
Fran 10 Bering Strait.
Strives to Reach Pole.
Pushing through. he viii enter the cur
rent IN which Nansel drifted. but much
farther 70 the east In this way he hopes
to drift north and northwest across the
north pols- basin and 70 attain a higher
altitude than was reached by Capt Sver-
drup in the Fran after NaHsen and 10
hansen left the ship about IS degrees
north latitude).
The attainment Of the pole is By TO
means Capt Amundsen's main object.
he goes rather to make scientific obser-
vations- he will Of course look out for
indications Of land, though the general
opinion is that a deep ocean covers the
whole OF the north polar basin. His
drift make take him ultimately out by
the east coast Of Greenland If Cant
Amundsen is able 20 carry out his full
intention he viii have practically solved
the important problems Of the arctic
region.