Evening star., 1937-06-14
AFRICA LIKE ARIZONA.
Rough, Mountainous, Hot Country
Described by Flyer.


KHARTUM, Anglo Egyptian Sudan,
June l4-This I am writing in British
territory in mid-morning of Sunday.
Last Sunday was in Brazil. Next
week, with good fortune, We may be
IN Australia or beyond. Yesterday we
crossed another great river of the
world. For us the Nile is a cheering
landmark in the equatorial air voy-
age, as was the Amazon some days
ago, each a geographical milestone
on our way.
Leaving this place after a short
stay, we headed for Massawa and
on to the Red Sea. That attained,
Africa lies behind us.
The distance from Dakar on the
Atlantic, as we few, totals about
$500 miles. From Miami, Fla, we
will have come close to 10000 miles,
and 10000 miles from Oakland Calf,
This is pleasantly near the halfway
point in the 28000-mile total of our
projected journey. But most of what
we've flown has been over land. The
1000 miles beyond Australia lie al
most entirely over water.
Like United States Southwest.
The terrain over which We have
been flying in Africa is remarkably
like the Southwestern part Of the
United States. So much so, that
often is was almost necessary to
pinch myself to realize how far from
Arizona and New Mexico I actually
was 1t has mostly been a hot coun-
try, rough, arid, mountainous. And
beautiful.
The difference, at least as seen
from the air, lies principally in what
humans have accomplished. In the
central part of Africa that we've
seen highways appear entirely lack
ing. The roads are apparently little
more than trials, crookedly wander
ing far and wide. And. of course.
there are few OF those welcome emer-
gency landing fields of our own West,
or such aviation luxuries as radio
beams But, at that, sometimes felt
that the names on the map might
just as well have read "Alburquerque"
and Tucson" instead of "Timbuktu"
and "Yedi."
Different as is the surrounding ter
rltory, our first sight of Lake Chad,
almost in the middle of the continent,
somehow reminded me OF Salt Lake.
But the waters of Chad are fresh. It
spraWls over some 10000 square miles
its varying area depending upon
rainfal-with the long fingers Of Ia
goons reaching out into the surround
ing lowlands.
Saw Hippopotami.
I was told that this region abounds
In game. The advertised elephants
We did not see, nor lions or even
crocodiles. But then, pilot busy
with the hundred and one gadgets
OF her cockpit and navigator occu-
pied with his maps have little time
for game seeking. A landing field
located where one expects to find 1t
Is quite as exciting q sight as even
a herd of giant tuskers. At that, we
did glimpse considerable number Of
hippopotami, who seemed to resent
our presence mildly.
Near the water, too, we saw many
large white birds, probably pelicans.
Mostly, though, we were flying high,
so our opportunities for intimate
sightseeing were limited. The vii
lagos seemed very different from our
own. Their formations we're curl
ously irregular. Nowhere did we see
hsbitations laid out in squares, and
such as we passed over were, for the
most part, colorless.
At Ell flasher, where we spent
Saturday night is a splendid land
Ing field, but with few facilities.
There we were the guests of Gov. P.
1ngleson, in charge OF the Darfur
Province. His quarters were once
sultan's palace. My own room was
next door to the old-time harem.
All along the route we received
wonderfully cordial welcomes from
the officials in charge and the most
helpful assistance. It seemed un-
gracious to repay such kindness by
disturbing our hosts households at
dismally early hours as and 4 In
the morning, 50 that we might start
at daybreak. 1t was best, all advised
us, to get our flying done by noon.