Part 29

“His extraordinary photographic work among the teeming wild creatures of East Africa.... He is a great field naturalist, a trained scientific observer, as well as a mighty hunter; and no mere hunter can ever do work even remotely approaching in value that which he has done. His book should be translated into English at once.”

Some Exceptional Reviews

“An entrancing work. His photographs are positively wonderful; his letterpress is vivid.”--Standard.

“A book of singular value.”--Yorkshire Post.

“This remarkable book.”--Sporting and Dramatic News.

“A unique and most remarkable book.”--Scotsman.

“Space forbids any mention of the author’s hunting adventures or of his many thrilling escapes from death, but all through the two volumes the human interest is as strong as the scientific.”--Graphic.

“A remarkable book. Nobody else has ever obtained so wonderful a series of photographs.”--Truth.

“An entirely remarkable book, containing the greatest triumph in photography of wild animals ever achieved.”--Outlook.

LONDON: HUTCHINSON & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW

Nearest the Pole

By Commander R. E. PEARY

(U. S. Navy; President of the National Geographic Society)

Author of “Northward over the Great Ice,” etc.

With an introduction by President Roosevelt and numerous illustrations selected from a collection of 1,200 of the Author’s photographs

In Crown 4to, cloth gilt and gilt top, =21s.= net.

In this book Commander Peary relates the thrilling story of his endeavours to reach the North Pole. Although he did not succeed in his attempt, he managed to get nearer to the Pole than any of his predecessors. Sailing in the Roosevelt from Etah, North Greenland, on August 16th, 1905, the expedition soon encountered ice which made their progress both dangerous and difficult. After being icebound for some weeks, the vessel was extricated, but not floated again until the following summer. The sun disappearing from sight in October, was not seen again until March. The expedition re-started in February on a sledge trip in the direction of the Pole, and after dividing the party, Peary and his followers journeyed towards their goal encountering on their way, among other mishaps, a gale which lasted six days, during which time they found themselves some seventy miles out of their course. They then endeavoured to get intelligence of the other portion of their party, but had to abandon their attempt as their scouts could not locate their whereabouts. At length, by forced marches, Commander Peary, on April 21st, reached 87° 6´ N.

On this expedition Commander Peary did for the American segment of the Polar Basin what Nansen did for the Asiatic. The narrative is exceedingly dramatic. The explorer tells how he built the Roosevelt on an entirely different plan from any other Arctic ship, and not only adopted Eskimo clothing and made camps like Eskimos in ice and snow, but took Eskimos with him as guides. It is the seventh time that Peary has been North--oftener than any other explorer: and the Hubbard Gold Medal that President Roosevelt presented him on behalf of the National Geographic Society is the fifth he has received for his distinguished achievements in exploration. There will be an introduction to the book by President Roosevelt, and the beautiful pictures with which the book will be illustrated are selected from a collection of 1,200 of the author’s photographs.

LONDON: HUTCHINSON & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:

Male Emperor-moths (Saturnia pyri) hasten from great distances, even against the wind, to a female of the species emerging from the chrysalis state in captivity. Elephants, the author believes, can scent a fall of rain at a distance of many miles.

The author would like to bring this fact home to all destroyers of herons, kingfishers, and diving-birds.

The Masai distinguish the kinds of grass which their cattle eat and reject. Many kinds of grass with pungent grains, such as Andropogon contortus, L., are rejected entirely. Yet the tough bow-string hemp is to the taste of many wild animals--the small kudu, for instance.

Latterly many sportsmen in the tropics have taken again to the use of very large-calibre rifles. Charges of as much as 21 gr. of black powder and a 26¾ mm. bullet are employed with them. It is to the kick of such a ride that the author owes the scar which is visible in the portrait serving as frontispiece to this book--an “untouched” photograph, like all the others.

See With Flashlight and Rifle.

In winter, Siberia affords a refuge to beautiful long-haired tigers, such as can be seen in the Berlin Zoological Gardens.

For this information I am indebted to the kindness of the experienced Russian hunter Ceslav von Wancowitz.

Herr Niedieck also underwent a similar experience. See his book Mit der Büchse in fünf Weltteilen, and my own With Flashlight and Rifle.