In 1976 I, Walter Battiss, Bat one five five, Fook, Ferd the Third etc., went round the world to look for Cosmic Man. Did he know what he was looking for, or would he compose this being as he travelled from various insights on lonely islands & discoveries on continents of geographic wastes?

H learnt from the islands of La Digue, Seychelles group, that American Man on the moon was a myth, that to swim in the nude in their coral seas was extremely vulgar, while unlimited sex on the beaches was OK. OK. foOK.

He found very beautiful people on the island of Madagascar. He found Abud or Abdu, 18, on Grande Comore. Where is Abud now, after the revolution?

On Reunion he found the art of Paris in a rare museum. Now he knows Vollard was from this lonely volcanic island.

On Mauritius he saw too much sugar cane & every time, every time, every time, nearly came to know people. It is a very strange experience ALMOST getting to know a person. Only one more meeting, one more opportunity & the friendship would be there, but that chance never came. Perhaps this situation suggests that Fook should revisit Mauritius & clinch friendship there!

Walking along Manly beach near Sydney, Australia, Fook found the surfer Brendan who finds glory in doing without things and whom he had helped with lodgings at Tananarive, Madagascar. The tattooed girls of Kings Cross, Sydney could be cosmic man disguised in body designs. Cosmic Man under Crux Australis! Why not?