FROM LONDON TO AUSTRALIA BY AEROPLANE 



303 



Photograph by Theodore Macklin 



DANCING GIRLS OF SIAM 



The Siamese accorded the aviators the warmest hospitality upon their arrival at the Don 

 Muang aerodrome, 12 miles north of Bangkok, the national capital. 



On landing we were informed that he 

 had left that same morning for Calcutta. 



There is a considerable garrison sta- 

 tioned at Allahabad, and the comman- 

 dant, fearing that a deformity might over- 

 come us through being cramped hand and 

 foot in the machine, had arranged an 

 active function called a Jazz. L T nfortu- 

 nately, we were unable to test the effi- 

 ciency of this form of exercise, though 

 we appreciated the thoughtful hospitality 

 of our hosts. 



There was great excitement at the 

 aerodrome next morning. While we were 

 taxi-ing to the far end, preparatory to 

 taking off, a fine bull broke on to the 

 ground, and as we swung round to take 

 off he charged head on toward the ma- 

 chine. The position, though ridiculous, 

 was extremely hazardous. No doubt, to 

 quote the celebrated railway engineer, it 

 would have been "bad for the coo," but 



a collision would also have been ex- 

 tremely "bad for the Vimy." 



I frightened him for the moment by a 

 roar from the engines. Evidently he 

 took the roar for a challenge, and stood 

 in front of the Vimy, pawing the ground 

 and bellowing defiantly. At this point a 

 boy scout rushed out from the crowd to 

 move the monster, and, much to the 

 amusement of ourselves and the crowd. 

 the bull changed his intention and turned 

 on the hero. Our brave toreador re- 

 treated to the fence, pursued by the bull. 



TTIK ARRIVAL AT CALCUTTA 



We took advantage of the diversion 

 and made a more hurried ascent than 

 usual. What became of the scout I do 

 not know, but as we circled above I no- 

 ticed that the bull was still in sole posses- 

 sion of the aerodrome. 



Once more pursuing the course of the 



