Welsh Journals

CELTIC UNDERCURRENTS IN EXPLORATION. By John S. Davies. HE tragic death of Sir Ernest Shackleton, and that of Captain Scott before him, has prompted the man in the street to ask why men dare death in Polar Expeditions When told that it is done in the interests of science and for fame, he inquires, Is it worth the risk of life? These questions are the echo of others similar that have been asked through centuries past, during which little bands of Britons have sailed from their seaports on the great adventures that have placed this country to-day at the head of the nations. The question of the "risk of life seldom enters the thoughts of a great man when concentrated on "the work to do." The hero feels, but never reasons there is a quality in him that is negligent of expense, of health, of life, of danger his energy, his enterprise, and his will are everything. The timid man, the lazy man, the over-civilised man-who has lost the great fighting masterful virtues, the ignorant man, and the man of dull mind, whose soul is in- capable of feeling the mighty lift that thrills stem men with empires in their brains," all these shrink from recognising the loftier duties-duties to the nation and the race. Whence comes this inspiration, this tremendous urge in the blood, that has sent our adventurers far into the unknown, so that we might have our say in deciding the destiny of the oceans? The more deeply we look into the question of this yearning for adventure, the more convinced we be- come that Celtic influence is at once the inspiring factor, and the source of energy. The mysterious current has permeated the human soul with a quicken- ing energy that has called for action and conquest. It has given the fire, the elan, and the daring power to the roving spirit from the very earliest days. Even in Celtic mythology we find Mananan, the sea-god, as one of the most popular deities. He was lord of the sea he was the guide of man. His boat, Ocean Sweeper," obeyed the thought of those who sailed in it. White crested waves were called the Horses of Mananan and the steed, Aonbarr, could travel alike on sea or land. The relics of ancient Celtic art-work tell the same story, the love of voyaging. The fascination of the sea and the call of new lands appealed to the Celtic spirit in Madog ap Owen Gwynedd (of royal blood), who, according to the Triads, went to sea along with three hundred men in ten ships." The alleged discovery of America by him has been the subject of much controversy, and we do not propose to enter into it here. Sir George Peckham, one of the enthusiastic patrons of those voyagers, whose discoveries form brilliant episodes in the reign of good Queen Bess, was the author of a pamphlet full of praise of Madog, who voyaged in 1170 and Sir Thomas Herbert, who had access to the famous library at Raglan Castle, endeavours to prove conclusively the early discovery by the Welsh prince. BEUNO'S CHEST. In Abergavenny there lived a gallant sea-captain. For him the sea held secrets — promised great things. The big white-crested rollers urged him to follow their hoarsely roaring voices to a southern huge waste of waters where silver-green icebergs guarded a silent snow-white region. lhis explorer, Captain James (1593-1635), was ambitious to reach the South Pole, and he set out from Bristol. On the voyage he dis- covered a new land which he named New South Wales. He is said to be the original of Coleridge's Ancient Mariner. The heroism of the famous navigator, John Davis, is not known to all. A Celt, bom in Devonshire, this brave man conducted three expeditions for the discovery of the north-west passage. In the 'first he coasted round the south of Greenland, and sailed across the strait that now bears his name. In the third he sailed north through Davis Strait into Baffin Bay. He also accompanied the expedition of Caven- dish to the Pacific in 1591, and made several voyages to the East Indies. While navigating the Indian seas he was captured by Japanese pirates, and killed. He wrote Seamens Secrets (a work on navigation) and the World's Hydrographical Description." High on the honour roll of exploration we find the name of another strong Celt-Sir William Parry, He commanded the Alexander in an expedition to the Arctic regions under Sir John Ross, and during "the succeeding nine years he commanded various ex- peditions on his own account in efforts to find a north- west passage, and to reach the North Pole. Up to 1827 he held the record for farthest north," and gave his name to the Parry Islands in the Arctic seas. For his services he received the honour of knighthood. He published several volumes, in which he narrated his voyages and adventures. It is to the example of his success that the later achievements in Arctic navi- gation are to be mainly attributed. Although the terror of the Spanish main, Sir Henry Morgan is canonised by many as a hero greater than Dampier or Cook. There are many conflicting opinions on the character of this old sea-dog ancestor of the Tredegar family. In the light of to-day he is regarded by some as a jolly old rascal-the idol of sportsmen and drinkers, but his character must be estimated according to the stirring and dangerous times in which he lived. The portrait of Morgan gives the idea of a man of arresting personality. With an eye to see and a soul to dare, this gay adven- turer knew every creek and channel in the West 'Indies, explored the coast of Sojuth America, and could have founded an empire had he so resolved. He won the favour of King Charles II, was knighted by him, and made Governor of Jamaica. The Celtic influence had a powerful hold on Livingstone and Stanley. When the poor boy, John Rowlands, of Denbigh, arrived at New Orleans after a rough voyage as cabin-boy, he assumed the name Stanley from the merchant who adopted him. His