Evening star., 1934-03-24
RELATES CROSSING.
AFRICA ON CYCLES.
Explorer Tells Geographic
Society of 3,800.MiIe
Trip in WiIds.

Save for the difficulty of obtaining
gasoline and the irnpossibility of find
ing expert mechanics, crossing North
ern Africa by motor cycle Is not
nearly as arduous journey as might
be supposed, James c. Wilson told
members of the National Geographic
Society last evening at Constitution
Hall. Mr.. Wilson and his companion.
Francis Flood, made the 3.800-mile
crossing successfully with two motor
cycles from Lagos Nigeria, on the
Atlantic coast, to Massaua. Eritrea, on
the Red Sea. traversing jungles, des-
erts and boundless plains.
Residents of Lagos advised against
the hazardous trip, portions of which
were over roadless regions. They
told of blood-thirsty natives, ferocious
animals and insects and the lack Of
water and food to keep them alive.
An American missionary stepped
through the Lagos crowd that gath
cred to see them off and, shaking his
head sadly, said: Il have just one
suggestion to make. When you get
to Kano, if by the grace of God you
ever do get that far, you'd better swap
those overloaded single cylinder
house boats for two good. healthy
long-legged camels, a stout thorny
stick and 10000 choice Arabic cuS
words"
40 Different Salutes.
Towering walls of tropic jungle
growth squeezed the narrow road
shortly after the explorers left Lagos.
Southern Nigeria is thiCkly populated
Mr.. Wilson poi 1ted out, and as they
jolted along o'Er the trail, they knew
from sounds .iat floated out from
the jungle, thst back behind green
walls were hudEled, in small villages
of beehive-like huts. thousands of
people. When shcy met the natives,
the Yorubas. thfy learned there were
100000 of then; ambitious, law
abiding. quick thinking and polite.
The Yorubas arG past masters at
saIuting, Mr.. Wlissn said. They salute
when they sit down, stand up, walk
work, o. eat: In fact there are more
than 40 common Toruba salutes. The
second day out Of Lagos the explor-
ers visitej Yoruba potentate who
ruled over 100000 natives. He served
tea from exquisite china and spoke
English nth an Oxford accent.
After rlore thsn 100 miles of rough
riding, during which they named
their motor cycles Rough" and
Tumble . the explorers halted at
1badan, 2 pagan metropolis.
From Ibadan the route became a
mere trail throuRh tall grass. The
blood-thirsty natives mentioned to
the explorers at Lagos failed to ap-
pear. Instead, they found the in
habitants all along the way across
Africa, kindly and willing helpers.
AT one stop NJ. Wilson unpacked
his guitar and gained the everlasting
friendship Of thei natives by strum-
ming American jszz tunes. The ma
tives, in turn, staged tribal dances,
brought forth their snake charmers,
and frequently entertained the white
visitors with music played on their
crude inst ruments. The natives of
Africa are the best drummers I have
ever heard" Mr.. Wilson declared.
Praises French and British.
In 10 days the expedition reached
Kano. metropolis # Northern Nigeria
Beyond Eano tire tropical jungles
vanished sald mora open savanna land
appeared until the deserts were
reached. For 1000 miles east of
Finder, just north Of the Nigerian
border, th2re were no roads. The
Scorching rays o. the tropical sun
overhead and the soft sizzling sands
OF the desert slowed up the expedition.
The explorer praised the French
and British officials for extending
cordial receptions and willing as
sistance. Most OF the French forts
are high vailed buwarks topping
mountains If gray sand. At the base
of these arr small native villages. The
garrison a. a French fort usually
consisted oI a French army officer or
two and Negro or native soldiers.
Probably the most thrilling event
of the trip. and one that compensated
for many troubles, was the sight of
an American flag flying above the
French trt3olor over the fort at
N'Guigmi BY some sort of commune
cations system, the French garrison
learned of he expeditions approach
and tailor spent three days making
an American flag as friendly gesture
to the strangers.