Drifters on the Sea

Homo erectus though reached Bali by trekking over land bridges; but migration beyond Bali required important sea crossings, which could not have occurred by accident. They must have used some sorts of seaworthy vessels. The current theory is that bamboo rafts were used.
Anything that floats could be lashed together to make a raft and serve as a boat. So bamboo, wood logs and reeds must have all been used as raw materials, tied together with vines or palm fibres. During the second half of the last century it became easier to communicate across the continents. Getting lost in the open sea was not expected as a regular event to an ordinary person. At this juncture a few persons, rather a few extra-ordinary insane persons came forward to prove something to the worlds in which they believed. They did not bother about their personal safety.For their journeys across sea they took the help of different types of boats or rafts.
In this book there are such ten accounts of such journeys alongwith pictures. like South America to Polynesia on a balsa raft – Journey of Kon-Tiki; Monaco to Barbados -Journey of Le Hérétique: Peru to Samoa on a raft- Journey of Seven Little Sisters; China to France via Australia - Journey of Fou Po and Kaimiloa; Tahiti to Peru and back to Tahiti - Journey of Tahiti Nui I, II & III; Peru to Australia on a raft – Journey of Age unlimited; Africa across Atlantic in a reed boat – Journey of Ra-I and II; China to Mexico in a junk boat – Journey of Tai-Ki and China to North America - Journey of Hsu fu the bamboo raft