352 THE DUKE OF ABRUZZI 



LEFT MARSEILLES IN MARCH. 



The expedition started from Marseilles on March 26 on the same Penin- 

 sular and Oriental steamer that brought it back two weeks before to that port. 

 In addition to the duke himself, it consisted of Marquis Negrotto-Cambiaso, 

 Abruzzi's aide ; Vittorio Sella, a well-known photographer ; Doctor De Filippi, 

 and several Swiss guides, who had already been the companions of the duke 

 on former mountain-scaling exploits. Negrotto, never having had any expe- 

 rience in mountain climbing, feared at first that he would be more of a hin- 

 drance than a help, but Abruzzi, who knew him evidently better than he knew 

 himself, insisted that he form part of the expedition. 



Sella, on the other hand, had been accustomed since early manhood to brav- 

 ing all sorts of perils in quest of photographs of mountain scenes. He was 

 already acquainted, not only with the Alps and the Caucasus, but with the Him- 

 alayas themselves, the goal of Abruzzi's efforts. De Filippi, likewise, was al- 

 ready an expert Alpine climber. 



EQUIPMENT OF THE BEST. 



Fully two months before starting for India the duke had busied himself 

 making complete preparations. He had made two trips to England for the pur- 

 pose of providing all the necessary equipment. As a result of this foresight the 

 equipment was of the very best, including, among other things, three different 

 kinds of tents — those used in tropical countries, large and comfortable, but 

 rather difficult to transport; Whymper tents, holding three people, and Mum- 

 mery tents, very small, holding one person. There were also 60 cases, each 

 containing all the necessaries for one day for 12 persons — everything, from 

 tobacco to marmalade, from preserved meat to a stock of oil for the special 

 stoves provided by Abruzzi similar to those used on polar expeditions. The 

 members of the expedition were also provided with sleeping bags, of three 

 thicknesses each ; the first of goatskin, the second of feathers, the third, or out- 

 side one, of camel's fur. 



On April 9 the expedition arrived at Bombay, proceeding on that same day 

 by rail to Rawalpindi, which was reached on the 12th. 



ESCORTED BY YOUNGHUSBAND. 



There an entire day was spent in getting the impedimenta of the party in 

 traveling order. The latter was sent on to Shrinagar in queer two-wheeled 



