The French aristocracy built hundred of chateaus, or grand houses, that qualify to be called 'castles,' in the seventeenth century. In the October, 1930, issue of National Geographic Magazine, is a quite lovely 8-page section of color photos, "Chateau Land - France's Pageant on the Loire." As I particularly enjoy architecture of all varieties, this was 'eye candy' for me.
Only one of the castles, Cinq-Mars-la-Pile, was mentioned to be in ruins. I googled the rest to see if they had survived the revolutions and great wars: yes, they are still intact in 2013. My late father, Reuben, who served in the United States Army 1937-1957, once told me of the Allied Forces 'pin-point' bombing during World War II: "They purposely avoided targeting historic sites." Amazing!
Each castle is different from the others in style but most are constructed of grey stone with black roofs. One of them, Chambord Castle, is reported to have taken 1,800 men fifteen years to build. Many of the castles are on the shores of the Loire River, the longest in France.
Much of France's history is intertwined with these castles. St. Joan of Arc, the famous girl-warrior who united and spurred on France's armies to victory, and was rewarded by being burned at the stake, was associated with many of the castles.
We citizens of the world are so inter-connected! "Between Chateaudun and Tours is Vendome. The castle is nothing remarkable, but no American can pass through the town without recalling it as the birthplace of Rochambeau, who aided Washington in capturing Yorktown" (p. 475).
Next week I'll be in France briefly, and would love to share photos of chateaus with you but, alas, my visit will only be a brief stay in the Paris de Gaulle airport!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Preview of Italy!!
Have you heard of the Classic Roman poet, Vergil? W. Coleman Nevils, S.J., D.D., PhD., has explored his work on geography in "The Perennial Geographer: After 2,000 Years, Vergil is Still the Most Widely Read of Latin Poets - First to Popularize Geography of the Roman Empire," National Geographic Magazine, October, 1930. The occasion for the article was the Bimillennial Celebration of Vergil's birth on October 15 in 70 B.C., over 2,000 years ago.
Vergil was born in the country, sickly and unfit for work such as farming or soldiering and thus became highly educated. He caught the attention of a wealthy Roman politician who decided he could use Vergil to glorify the land and the pursuits of agriculture and help inaugurate a "back to the farm movement" Vergil's patriotism inspired him to write "The Georgies - four books, giving a treatise on agriculture" (p. 442).
Nevils portrays Vergil as "Rome's most patriotic geographer. While he did, indeed, take delight in Italy's natural splendor, he went beyond this to instill in his fellow citizens not merely an admiration for their land and all its resources, but he would mingle the useful with the lovely, and strove by his lay to stir men to help in peace the country that had won such renown in war" (p. 451).
Vergil's greatest poem is the story of Aeneas and the founding of Rome, 9,896 lines long! Mr. Nevils tells us the complicated, exciting adventure. The part I found most interesting was a prophecy that was believed to be the coming of Jesus Christ: "The poet tells of the new golden age to come during the reign of Augustus - the birth of a wondrous child. The earth is to be freed from guilt and fear and dread. He shall be given a life divine" (p. 464).
In another part, the hero of the poem, Aeneas, visits his dead father in heaven after passing through hell and burying a man someone has neglected to bury.
The author comments, "It is no wonder, then, that amid the world-wide commemoration of the Vergilian bimillenary, the Italians should lead in grandiose festivals and gorgeous celebrations. . .The Italian Academy has offered a prize of 5,000 lire for the best ode on Vergil. Arnaldo Mussolini, brother of the Duce, has been superintending the development of a memorial park near Mantua. A set of bimillenary stamps has been issued by the Royal Post Office. . ." (p. 465).
Vergil: "But Rome! 'Tis thine alone with awful sway
To rule mankind and make the world obey." (photo caption, p. 448).
As far as the prospect of reading about a dead classical poet, I'll admit I was not excited. But the photos in this article brought back peasant memories of my trip to Italy in June of 2005 with daughter #3, Cathy. We visited some of the places shown in this article's photos, St. Peter's Basilica, Castle of St. Angelo, the Victor Emmanuel II Monument, all in Rome, plus the Grand Canal in Venice.
Jan: "But Rome! I'll return to you soon
Under the light of the same bright moon."
(you may laugh at my feeble attempt!)
Vergil was born in the country, sickly and unfit for work such as farming or soldiering and thus became highly educated. He caught the attention of a wealthy Roman politician who decided he could use Vergil to glorify the land and the pursuits of agriculture and help inaugurate a "back to the farm movement" Vergil's patriotism inspired him to write "The Georgies - four books, giving a treatise on agriculture" (p. 442).
Nevils portrays Vergil as "Rome's most patriotic geographer. While he did, indeed, take delight in Italy's natural splendor, he went beyond this to instill in his fellow citizens not merely an admiration for their land and all its resources, but he would mingle the useful with the lovely, and strove by his lay to stir men to help in peace the country that had won such renown in war" (p. 451).
Vergil's greatest poem is the story of Aeneas and the founding of Rome, 9,896 lines long! Mr. Nevils tells us the complicated, exciting adventure. The part I found most interesting was a prophecy that was believed to be the coming of Jesus Christ: "The poet tells of the new golden age to come during the reign of Augustus - the birth of a wondrous child. The earth is to be freed from guilt and fear and dread. He shall be given a life divine" (p. 464).
In another part, the hero of the poem, Aeneas, visits his dead father in heaven after passing through hell and burying a man someone has neglected to bury.
The author comments, "It is no wonder, then, that amid the world-wide commemoration of the Vergilian bimillenary, the Italians should lead in grandiose festivals and gorgeous celebrations. . .The Italian Academy has offered a prize of 5,000 lire for the best ode on Vergil. Arnaldo Mussolini, brother of the Duce, has been superintending the development of a memorial park near Mantua. A set of bimillenary stamps has been issued by the Royal Post Office. . ." (p. 465).
Vergil: "But Rome! 'Tis thine alone with awful sway
To rule mankind and make the world obey." (photo caption, p. 448).
As far as the prospect of reading about a dead classical poet, I'll admit I was not excited. But the photos in this article brought back peasant memories of my trip to Italy in June of 2005 with daughter #3, Cathy. We visited some of the places shown in this article's photos, St. Peter's Basilica, Castle of St. Angelo, the Victor Emmanuel II Monument, all in Rome, plus the Grand Canal in Venice.
Jan: "But Rome! I'll return to you soon
Under the light of the same bright moon."
(you may laugh at my feeble attempt!)
Thursday, October 17, 2013
High Adventure in Snowy Mountains!
How amazing: "China still holds within its borders vast mountain systems wholly unknown not only to the Western World, but to the Chinese themselves" (p. 385, "The Glories of the Minya Konka: Magnificent Snow Peaks of the China-Tibetan Border are Photographed at Close Range by a National Geographic Society Expedition," National Geographic Magazine, October, 1930, by Joseph F. Rock. This definitely calls for a closer look!
The author's expedition journeyed to south China to the Minya Konka mountain range, photographed the peaks, mapped them, and explored the slopes. The party took along supplies for seven months, including 46 mules and twenty local men. Mr. Rock began his trip by visiting lamas (monks) in a Kulu monastery and a king on the China-Tibet border, the same procedure as that of a previous one to the Amnyi Machen Range to the north (see this blog, September 7, 2013, "Climbing Mountains!").
One of the lamas accompanied the group and facilitated relations with local tribes. Many dangers were faced and overcome: blizzards, robbers, rivers with no bridges, and a civil war in northwestern Yunnan.
"And then suddenly, like a white promontory of clouds, we beheld the long-hidden Minya Konka rising 25,600 feet in sublime majesty. I could not help exclaiming for joy. I marveled at the scenery which I, the first white man ever to stand here, was privileged to see" (p. 413). The towering, rocky, snow-covered mountain was flanked by glaciers. The glaciers, as photographed by Mr. Rock, looked like frozen rivers between mountain peaks.
The party had other tasks in addition to photographing and mapping the mighty mountain range. They collected specimens of plants. One particular treat for them was passing through a birch tree forest. At one point they bought several yaks which could carry their supplies with ease through the snow. The yaks, apparently, were sturdy yet temperamental. In some rivers the mules and yaks had to swim to cross, but in one they were pulled upside down across a rope bridge. The author reports, "The pack animals kicked and brayed and objected to this method of crossing the river" (photo caption, p. 422).
Mr. Rock was privileged to stay in one lamasery (monastery) in their sacred shrine room, in which was kept the mummified remains of the last living buddha (leader). He wondered, "Was this the year 1929, or had time been set back a thousand years? Did I dream, or was it all reality" (p. 426). Four lamas then came into the room to chant prayers and his meditation before sleep was broken. The lamasery was six hundred years old and was isolated by snow from the outside world for six months of the year.
In one town through which they passed, Tatsienlu, population 20,000, I was surprised that there was a Christian church in this remote land of lamas.
Prior to returning home, the expedition was marooned for two months due to the civil war. Mr. Rock reports, "When threatening letters arrived and 2,000 of the rebels came within forty miles. . . I decided that it was high time to leave. I did not care to be held prisoner while rebels dickered with government troops over my release, and then risk losing my head should terms be rejected!" At last, with the help of friendly locals helping them cross the raging Yangtze River, the group was on their way home. The brave explorer concludes, "Once more our guardian angel was with us and brought us safely back, with the lesson that all things worth while are difficult of attainment" (p. 437).
The author's expedition journeyed to south China to the Minya Konka mountain range, photographed the peaks, mapped them, and explored the slopes. The party took along supplies for seven months, including 46 mules and twenty local men. Mr. Rock began his trip by visiting lamas (monks) in a Kulu monastery and a king on the China-Tibet border, the same procedure as that of a previous one to the Amnyi Machen Range to the north (see this blog, September 7, 2013, "Climbing Mountains!").
One of the lamas accompanied the group and facilitated relations with local tribes. Many dangers were faced and overcome: blizzards, robbers, rivers with no bridges, and a civil war in northwestern Yunnan.
"And then suddenly, like a white promontory of clouds, we beheld the long-hidden Minya Konka rising 25,600 feet in sublime majesty. I could not help exclaiming for joy. I marveled at the scenery which I, the first white man ever to stand here, was privileged to see" (p. 413). The towering, rocky, snow-covered mountain was flanked by glaciers. The glaciers, as photographed by Mr. Rock, looked like frozen rivers between mountain peaks.
The party had other tasks in addition to photographing and mapping the mighty mountain range. They collected specimens of plants. One particular treat for them was passing through a birch tree forest. At one point they bought several yaks which could carry their supplies with ease through the snow. The yaks, apparently, were sturdy yet temperamental. In some rivers the mules and yaks had to swim to cross, but in one they were pulled upside down across a rope bridge. The author reports, "The pack animals kicked and brayed and objected to this method of crossing the river" (photo caption, p. 422).
Mr. Rock was privileged to stay in one lamasery (monastery) in their sacred shrine room, in which was kept the mummified remains of the last living buddha (leader). He wondered, "Was this the year 1929, or had time been set back a thousand years? Did I dream, or was it all reality" (p. 426). Four lamas then came into the room to chant prayers and his meditation before sleep was broken. The lamasery was six hundred years old and was isolated by snow from the outside world for six months of the year.
In one town through which they passed, Tatsienlu, population 20,000, I was surprised that there was a Christian church in this remote land of lamas.
Prior to returning home, the expedition was marooned for two months due to the civil war. Mr. Rock reports, "When threatening letters arrived and 2,000 of the rebels came within forty miles. . . I decided that it was high time to leave. I did not care to be held prisoner while rebels dickered with government troops over my release, and then risk losing my head should terms be rejected!" At last, with the help of friendly locals helping them cross the raging Yangtze River, the group was on their way home. The brave explorer concludes, "Once more our guardian angel was with us and brought us safely back, with the lesson that all things worth while are difficult of attainment" (p. 437).
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Under the Sea!
It's wonderful how quickly I'm "hooked" into each and every National Geographic Magazine article. Try this out and see if you agree: "If the sea went dry along the east coast of Queensland, a thousand miles of coral "maze" would be revealed." So writes Charles Barrett in his September, 1930, article, "The Great Barrier Reef and Its Isles: The Wonder and Mystery of Australia's World-Famous Geographical Feature." "Then there are the isles, mountainous and forested of the inner zone, and the atolls and cays that are true coral islands" (p. 355). I must read on, and hope for lots of color photos.
In addition to the history of the Barrier Reef's explorations, the dangers of navigating amidst the reefs, and the various theories of the origin of the reef, Mr. Barrett details "boring" ventures. Not what you might think, this concerns drilling cores into the reef at different points to try to determine its age. The evidence provided no conclusions, even to a depth of 1,100 feet.
Imagine the great proliferation of animal life, both under the sea, on the islands and beaches! Sea turtles are one of the most fascinating of creatures, living in both worlds. "Sea turtles are seldom seen out of the water in the daytime. They steal ashore at night to lay eggs" (photo caption, p. 360).
My sister-in-law has a friend whose daughter is a doctor of marine biology who has made numerous trips to Australia to study the sea turtles. "They attain a length of five feet or more. . . we counted nearly 300 one morning along the western beach (Masthead)" (p. 375).
A photo on page 373 shows the author in a small rowboat leaning over the edge looking into a sort of long metal cylinder. "The water telescope reveals beauties of submarine gardens far below." In the background is a lighthouse on an island complete with palm trees. Sigh! I love lighthouses!
I was having visions of the movie, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." Remember that? The undersea life was spectacular. My friend, Rosemary, took scuba lessons in a local pool in preparation for going snorkeling in the ocean one summer. Maybe I should try that. . .
Snapped out of my fantasy by crocodiles! "There are two species of crocodiles in northern Queensland: the huge seagoing variety, which has taken toll of human life, and this small species that frequents only inland waters" (photo caption, p. 377).
The author noted thousands of sea birds on the beaches. "Some light-keepers are bird lovers, and at the North Reef I found the herons so confiding that close-up photographs were possible. But the gulls, the dainty silver gulls which nested on the fringe of vegetation, were suspicious" (p. 378).
I collect sea shells and never tire of arranging them in decorating for the summer. Now I have a new name I can call myself, "conchologist!" "A conchologist might be content to spend a lifetime collecting and studying the mollusca of the Great Barrier Reef" (p. 379).
"The coral's living beauty may not be captured in words. An hour on a reef at low tide, or a cruuise in a boat equipped with a water glass, reveals a new world of loveliness. Or going below, with the diving helmet on, one discovers fresh beauties in familiar things" (p. 382).
Mr. Barrett concludes, "Crocodiles bask on the mud banks of north Queensland rivers and lurk among the mangroves by the sea. Nature has not yielded all her secrets yet, in this country of the cassowary and tree-climbing kangaroos. But the Great Barrier guards a hundred secrets where the mainland has one. Is is not a wonder of the world?" (p. 384).
(p.s.: for a view of an unusual, beautiful, flightless bird of Australia, Google "cassowary." I had never heard of this before. BTW, by the time I got to the end of this article, I didn't mind at all that there were no color photos.)
In addition to the history of the Barrier Reef's explorations, the dangers of navigating amidst the reefs, and the various theories of the origin of the reef, Mr. Barrett details "boring" ventures. Not what you might think, this concerns drilling cores into the reef at different points to try to determine its age. The evidence provided no conclusions, even to a depth of 1,100 feet.
Imagine the great proliferation of animal life, both under the sea, on the islands and beaches! Sea turtles are one of the most fascinating of creatures, living in both worlds. "Sea turtles are seldom seen out of the water in the daytime. They steal ashore at night to lay eggs" (photo caption, p. 360).
My sister-in-law has a friend whose daughter is a doctor of marine biology who has made numerous trips to Australia to study the sea turtles. "They attain a length of five feet or more. . . we counted nearly 300 one morning along the western beach (Masthead)" (p. 375).
A photo on page 373 shows the author in a small rowboat leaning over the edge looking into a sort of long metal cylinder. "The water telescope reveals beauties of submarine gardens far below." In the background is a lighthouse on an island complete with palm trees. Sigh! I love lighthouses!
 | ||
| Palm trees on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, July, 2013. Not as far as Australia, but I met several friendly families from Australia. Does that count? |
 | ||
| St. Augustine Lighthouse, June, 2013. Who could NOT admire these stately edifices! |
Snapped out of my fantasy by crocodiles! "There are two species of crocodiles in northern Queensland: the huge seagoing variety, which has taken toll of human life, and this small species that frequents only inland waters" (photo caption, p. 377).
The author noted thousands of sea birds on the beaches. "Some light-keepers are bird lovers, and at the North Reef I found the herons so confiding that close-up photographs were possible. But the gulls, the dainty silver gulls which nested on the fringe of vegetation, were suspicious" (p. 378).
 |
| Seabirds rest on my kitchen counter in the seascape in the summer. They've flown north (upstairs) for the winter already. They are fairly quiet and don't require frequent feeding. Good pets. But I couldn't say the same for the orange octopus attacking the sailboat! |
"The coral's living beauty may not be captured in words. An hour on a reef at low tide, or a cruuise in a boat equipped with a water glass, reveals a new world of loveliness. Or going below, with the diving helmet on, one discovers fresh beauties in familiar things" (p. 382).
Mr. Barrett concludes, "Crocodiles bask on the mud banks of north Queensland rivers and lurk among the mangroves by the sea. Nature has not yielded all her secrets yet, in this country of the cassowary and tree-climbing kangaroos. But the Great Barrier guards a hundred secrets where the mainland has one. Is is not a wonder of the world?" (p. 384).
(p.s.: for a view of an unusual, beautiful, flightless bird of Australia, Google "cassowary." I had never heard of this before. BTW, by the time I got to the end of this article, I didn't mind at all that there were no color photos.)
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
What Difference Does COLOR Make?
Can you number yourself among us very senior citizens who knew life before color TV? Are you old enough to know when cameras only took black-and-white photos?
I have so long enjoyed the color photos in the pages of the National Geographic Magazine, that it was quite a change to begin my reading of issues from the 1920's, when all but a few photos were in black-and-white. Fortunately, I knew what was coming, that there would be more and better color photos in future years.
In this National Geographic Magazine article, "The Color Camera's First Aerial Success", September, 1930, Melville Bell Grosvenor (a future editor of the journal), presents the difficulties of taking natural color photographs from an airplane:
1) "natural-color plates require from fifty to sixty times the length of exposure to light necessary for black-and-white pictures" (p. 344). The planes move too fast for this.
2) brilliant light was necessary, therefore, a calm and hazeless atmosphere was needed.
Mr. Grosvenor and the National Geographic Society worked with the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics; experimental photos were taken in the Goodyear-Zeppelin dirigible (blimp) Mayflower. "The first successful natural-color photograph was made of the National Capitol (in Washington, D.C.) . . . When the photographer was in position for the proper composition, the pilot in charge of the Mayflower was given a signal, the motors were momentarily cut off to eliminate vibration, and the big bag floated quietly while the brief exposure was made" (p. 353).
The author continues, "Not until he travels with possibilities of the natural-color camera in mind does the airman fully appreciate the brilliance and the variety of the kaleidoscope that is constantly passing beneath him" (p. 353).
Oh, praise you, Lord, for instilling in us humans a certain curiosity! We, truly, in our inventions and explorations of our inner world and the outer worlds, stand on the shoulders of uncounted giants who had to try, had to find out, what might be done. Bravo, Mr. Grosveor!
(To read more about Blimps, please see this blog, September 27, 2013, "Around the World in 21 days in a Blimp.")
I have so long enjoyed the color photos in the pages of the National Geographic Magazine, that it was quite a change to begin my reading of issues from the 1920's, when all but a few photos were in black-and-white. Fortunately, I knew what was coming, that there would be more and better color photos in future years.
In this National Geographic Magazine article, "The Color Camera's First Aerial Success", September, 1930, Melville Bell Grosvenor (a future editor of the journal), presents the difficulties of taking natural color photographs from an airplane:
1) "natural-color plates require from fifty to sixty times the length of exposure to light necessary for black-and-white pictures" (p. 344). The planes move too fast for this.
2) brilliant light was necessary, therefore, a calm and hazeless atmosphere was needed.
Mr. Grosvenor and the National Geographic Society worked with the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics; experimental photos were taken in the Goodyear-Zeppelin dirigible (blimp) Mayflower. "The first successful natural-color photograph was made of the National Capitol (in Washington, D.C.) . . . When the photographer was in position for the proper composition, the pilot in charge of the Mayflower was given a signal, the motors were momentarily cut off to eliminate vibration, and the big bag floated quietly while the brief exposure was made" (p. 353).
The author continues, "Not until he travels with possibilities of the natural-color camera in mind does the airman fully appreciate the brilliance and the variety of the kaleidoscope that is constantly passing beneath him" (p. 353).
Oh, praise you, Lord, for instilling in us humans a certain curiosity! We, truly, in our inventions and explorations of our inner world and the outer worlds, stand on the shoulders of uncounted giants who had to try, had to find out, what might be done. Bravo, Mr. Grosveor!
(To read more about Blimps, please see this blog, September 27, 2013, "Around the World in 21 days in a Blimp.")
Monday, October 14, 2013
Defying Death in the Skies
"The Philippine Islands are not all so thoroughly civilized and so thickly populated as Americans generally believe. . . 25,000 square miles, . . . most of it mountain jungle land is listed on Government survey maps as 'unexplored' " (p. 310, September, 1930, National Geographic Magazine. So begins Lieut. George W. Goddard, U.S. Army, in "The Unexplored Philippines From the Air: Map-making Over Jungle Lands Never Before Seen By White Men.".
Lieut. Goddard was an U.S. Army pilot on a flying expedition to map land on the island of Luzon, largest of the Philippines. He was excited to begin flying over new territory but also feared that, in case of an emergency, there was no place to land.
There were three planes and nine persons working together on the aerial photography. "We succeeded in photographing altogether about 5,000 square miles; also we found and photographed a 500-feet waterfall - never before seen by whites so far as we know" (p. 310).
The group left from the town of Aparri. Crowds came to see them and the planes. They had to post guards for fear souvenir hunters would disturb their equipment. Shortly after leaving, they flew over a beach on which a wild tribe of Filipino natives was "terrified by the great bird that swooped down out of the sky" (p. 313). This is exactly what explorers encountered on the island of New Guinea (see this blog, August 14, 2013, "Back to Islands!").
To appreciate our passenger planes of 2013 climbing to over 30,000 feet quickly, this helps: "Our working level was 12,000 feet. It took about an hour to reach this height" (p. 314).
At one point, Lieut. Goddard's plane's engines stopped. He relates, "I figured we had enough altitude to get to the Pacific on the east side of the island, so we turned around and started a long glide. I switched over to my emergency gasoline tank in the upper wing of the airplane and pumped frantically. We made the coastline, but when we reached it, one look at the enormous swells dashing against the rocks made me wonder if we wouldn't have done better to make parachute jumps back where the motor started missing" (p. 315). They managed to head back to Aparri and land safely.
I held my breath while reading the rest of the article! The flyers found the Mayon volcano erupting and flew over it to get a closer look! The next day they came back for more photos, then took them immediately to town where they were sent to world-wide news services. The Red Cross especially wanted this so everyone would help the fleeing natives.
Shortly thereafter one of the pilots (these were open-cockpit planes) flew into an immense swarm of locusts above the landing field. "He made the biggest mistake of his flying career, right there. The locusts simply plastered the ship - flattened out all over it. The Deacon's (pilot) goggles were so splashed he couldn't see. The insects got into his mouth, nose and ears" (p. 328). Eventually he landed at their air base, the only landing field in north Luzon.
FYI: Some Filipino tribes consider locusts a great delicacy and came out with baskets to gather them. "They pull the wings off and fry them" (p. 328).
When mapping the Bataan Peninsula nearly the same thing happened, but with bats. These must have been bats like we've never seen - their wingspan was four feet!
The Filipino natives were friendly after our airmen got to know them, quite unlike the primitive tribes on Pacific islands about which we've read. Lieut. Goddard reports, "I am sure they attached some supernatural significance to the "big white bird." They never discarded the notion that the plane was a species of fowl" (p. 334). They thought the plane's wheels were some kind of claw.
FYI: The Philippine Archipelago is comprised of 7,000 islands.
Several adventures involved emergency landings in the shark-infested ocean. The Lieutenant concludes, "There is power in the rivers, timber on the surface, rich soil for cultivation, and resources under the soil in the area over which we flew. Besides this, our trip proved again that the airplane is invaluable in tropical exploration" (p. 343).
Now I can catch my breath again!
Lieut. Goddard was an U.S. Army pilot on a flying expedition to map land on the island of Luzon, largest of the Philippines. He was excited to begin flying over new territory but also feared that, in case of an emergency, there was no place to land.
There were three planes and nine persons working together on the aerial photography. "We succeeded in photographing altogether about 5,000 square miles; also we found and photographed a 500-feet waterfall - never before seen by whites so far as we know" (p. 310).
The group left from the town of Aparri. Crowds came to see them and the planes. They had to post guards for fear souvenir hunters would disturb their equipment. Shortly after leaving, they flew over a beach on which a wild tribe of Filipino natives was "terrified by the great bird that swooped down out of the sky" (p. 313). This is exactly what explorers encountered on the island of New Guinea (see this blog, August 14, 2013, "Back to Islands!").
To appreciate our passenger planes of 2013 climbing to over 30,000 feet quickly, this helps: "Our working level was 12,000 feet. It took about an hour to reach this height" (p. 314).
At one point, Lieut. Goddard's plane's engines stopped. He relates, "I figured we had enough altitude to get to the Pacific on the east side of the island, so we turned around and started a long glide. I switched over to my emergency gasoline tank in the upper wing of the airplane and pumped frantically. We made the coastline, but when we reached it, one look at the enormous swells dashing against the rocks made me wonder if we wouldn't have done better to make parachute jumps back where the motor started missing" (p. 315). They managed to head back to Aparri and land safely.
I held my breath while reading the rest of the article! The flyers found the Mayon volcano erupting and flew over it to get a closer look! The next day they came back for more photos, then took them immediately to town where they were sent to world-wide news services. The Red Cross especially wanted this so everyone would help the fleeing natives.
Shortly thereafter one of the pilots (these were open-cockpit planes) flew into an immense swarm of locusts above the landing field. "He made the biggest mistake of his flying career, right there. The locusts simply plastered the ship - flattened out all over it. The Deacon's (pilot) goggles were so splashed he couldn't see. The insects got into his mouth, nose and ears" (p. 328). Eventually he landed at their air base, the only landing field in north Luzon.
FYI: Some Filipino tribes consider locusts a great delicacy and came out with baskets to gather them. "They pull the wings off and fry them" (p. 328).
When mapping the Bataan Peninsula nearly the same thing happened, but with bats. These must have been bats like we've never seen - their wingspan was four feet!
The Filipino natives were friendly after our airmen got to know them, quite unlike the primitive tribes on Pacific islands about which we've read. Lieut. Goddard reports, "I am sure they attached some supernatural significance to the "big white bird." They never discarded the notion that the plane was a species of fowl" (p. 334). They thought the plane's wheels were some kind of claw.
FYI: The Philippine Archipelago is comprised of 7,000 islands.
Several adventures involved emergency landings in the shark-infested ocean. The Lieutenant concludes, "There is power in the rivers, timber on the surface, rich soil for cultivation, and resources under the soil in the area over which we flew. Besides this, our trip proved again that the airplane is invaluable in tropical exploration" (p. 343).
Now I can catch my breath again!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
The Country with Fluid Boundaries
In 1930, the country of Jugoslavia was celebrating its ten-year anniversary. Jugoslavia, or "Yugoslavia," as we know it today, is directly across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, bordered on the south by Albania and Greece, on the north by Austria and Hungary, and on the east by Rumania. The map has surely changed since then; it will be interesting to see how the political and geographic events unfold.
"After the World War, Slovenia, Croatia, Slavonia, Bosnia, Hercegovina, Dalmatia, part of Banat, and the Kingdom of Montenegro were added to Serbia to compose a kingdom of 96,000 square miles with a population of 13,000,000" (photo caption, p. 264). This was the Jugoslavia of 1930.
Note: All the National Geographic Magazine articles of this era referred to "The World War." We would refer to it as WWI, since there was a WWII. Obviously, the people of the 1930s did not learn the cruel lessons of war. Have we??
For now, let's visit "Jugoslavia - Ten Years After," the first article in the September, 1930, issue of National Geographic Magazine. Melville Chater is the author and our tour guide.
Chater "lingered over our breakfast coffee" with friends in the city of Dubrovnik. They reminisced about the scene immediately after peace and Armistice ten year prior. There were "hysterical parades, champagne nights, looming revolutions, wholesale kissing, and rumors of old States dissolving, of new States being born" (p. 257).
Chater and party wanted to visit the interior of the country. The Karst region was desolate mountain land. Here again is a country of "waterways and largely undeveloped water power. The Danube (River) and its branches alone give her almost 1,000 miles of navigable routes, this in a State slightly smaller than Wyoming" (pp. 264-265).
The city of Sarajevo has a large Moslem population. The author considered the city to be "the westernmost of oriental cities" with many mosques and minarets, and citizens who "remain draped, veiled, and fezzed as of old" (p. 265).
Mr. Chater noted that in the city of Skoplje, there is also a sizeable number of Mohammedans who, with the Christians there, "experience little difficulty in living together haroniously" (photo caption, p. 276).
In the Kosovo region, donkeys were used for transportation and as pack animals. "Agricultural machinery is almost unknown in south Jugoslavia" (photo caption, p. 268).
Although for most of the trip, Mr. Chater traveled by chauffeured car, he and his companions "caught the northbound Orient Express" to Belgrade" (p. 284). After seeing the American mystery movie, "Murder on the Orient Express," it seemed to me that a trip on the train would be romantic and adventurous but also very expensive. (Dare I entertain that thought?)
Beograd (Belgrade) was the capital of Jugoslavia in 1930. "The spectacle of Beograd reconstructing herself is symptomatic of a nationwide process of exchanging old ways for new" (p. 285). At that time, most of the country women wove their own cloth, and were expert embroiderers. It is doubtful that artistry survives today, don't you think?
In Jugoslavia, so close to Italy, were the expected Roman ruins of buildings and aqueducts. Mr. Chater felt that in the region of Bosnia, its "enduring charm lies in its sheer wildness of woodland and water course. Often one has to remind oneself that he is not traveling in some virgin country, but in one which has known settlement and conquest since the days of the ancient Thracians" (p. 291). At one point, the party heard of nearby "baths," brought towels and bath salts but couldn't find them. A local gent then told them, yes, there were Roman baths, but they "hadn't been in working order for 2,000 years" (p. 296).
Croatia was the country's industrial province with products based on "timber, chemicals, iron, and sugar beet," yet "retarded by her lack of fuel" (p. 296). These products plus "live stock, cereals, bauxite, and cement form Jugoslavian exports" (p. 296).
At the end of their journey, the Chater group found a spa, modern, and well-equipped, and stayed there for two days.
After reading this article, I wanted to see what the country of present Yugoslavia looks like on the map. I was shocked to find (in Google) the boundaries have been changed several dozen times since 1930. Perhaps, if you or I had lived there for many years, we would have to ask, "What country are we today!"
"After the World War, Slovenia, Croatia, Slavonia, Bosnia, Hercegovina, Dalmatia, part of Banat, and the Kingdom of Montenegro were added to Serbia to compose a kingdom of 96,000 square miles with a population of 13,000,000" (photo caption, p. 264). This was the Jugoslavia of 1930.
Note: All the National Geographic Magazine articles of this era referred to "The World War." We would refer to it as WWI, since there was a WWII. Obviously, the people of the 1930s did not learn the cruel lessons of war. Have we??
For now, let's visit "Jugoslavia - Ten Years After," the first article in the September, 1930, issue of National Geographic Magazine. Melville Chater is the author and our tour guide.
Chater "lingered over our breakfast coffee" with friends in the city of Dubrovnik. They reminisced about the scene immediately after peace and Armistice ten year prior. There were "hysterical parades, champagne nights, looming revolutions, wholesale kissing, and rumors of old States dissolving, of new States being born" (p. 257).
Chater and party wanted to visit the interior of the country. The Karst region was desolate mountain land. Here again is a country of "waterways and largely undeveloped water power. The Danube (River) and its branches alone give her almost 1,000 miles of navigable routes, this in a State slightly smaller than Wyoming" (pp. 264-265).
The city of Sarajevo has a large Moslem population. The author considered the city to be "the westernmost of oriental cities" with many mosques and minarets, and citizens who "remain draped, veiled, and fezzed as of old" (p. 265).
Mr. Chater noted that in the city of Skoplje, there is also a sizeable number of Mohammedans who, with the Christians there, "experience little difficulty in living together haroniously" (photo caption, p. 276).
In the Kosovo region, donkeys were used for transportation and as pack animals. "Agricultural machinery is almost unknown in south Jugoslavia" (photo caption, p. 268).
Although for most of the trip, Mr. Chater traveled by chauffeured car, he and his companions "caught the northbound Orient Express" to Belgrade" (p. 284). After seeing the American mystery movie, "Murder on the Orient Express," it seemed to me that a trip on the train would be romantic and adventurous but also very expensive. (Dare I entertain that thought?)
Beograd (Belgrade) was the capital of Jugoslavia in 1930. "The spectacle of Beograd reconstructing herself is symptomatic of a nationwide process of exchanging old ways for new" (p. 285). At that time, most of the country women wove their own cloth, and were expert embroiderers. It is doubtful that artistry survives today, don't you think?
In Jugoslavia, so close to Italy, were the expected Roman ruins of buildings and aqueducts. Mr. Chater felt that in the region of Bosnia, its "enduring charm lies in its sheer wildness of woodland and water course. Often one has to remind oneself that he is not traveling in some virgin country, but in one which has known settlement and conquest since the days of the ancient Thracians" (p. 291). At one point, the party heard of nearby "baths," brought towels and bath salts but couldn't find them. A local gent then told them, yes, there were Roman baths, but they "hadn't been in working order for 2,000 years" (p. 296).
Croatia was the country's industrial province with products based on "timber, chemicals, iron, and sugar beet," yet "retarded by her lack of fuel" (p. 296). These products plus "live stock, cereals, bauxite, and cement form Jugoslavian exports" (p. 296).
At the end of their journey, the Chater group found a spa, modern, and well-equipped, and stayed there for two days.
After reading this article, I wanted to see what the country of present Yugoslavia looks like on the map. I was shocked to find (in Google) the boundaries have been changed several dozen times since 1930. Perhaps, if you or I had lived there for many years, we would have to ask, "What country are we today!"
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