Mountain Journeys 139 



more or less, and one of my friends was more wearied by an ascent 

 and a descent of 5000 feet, in a total walk of nine miles on lofty 

 ground than in going from Nahun to Soobathoo, which is 45 miles. 

 (P. 57-59.) 



The observations of Captain Hodgson who, in 1817, went to the 

 sources of the Ganges and one of its principal tributaries, the 

 Jumna, deserve to be quoted for the same reason: 219 



We experienced a great difficulty in breathing and that peculiar 

 sensation, constant at great elevations where there is no verdure, 

 which I have never felt anywhere as severely as on fields of snow, 

 even when I ascended higher .... 



The mercury stood at 18.854 inches, at a temperature of 53 °F. so 

 that the altitude was 12,914 feet (3935 meters). (P. 111.) 



It was May 30; the travellers had reached the source of the 

 Ganges. 



These countries were visited ten years afterwards by Captain 

 Johnson, whose account-" gives data identical with those of his 

 predecessors. Moreover, the dangerous effect of lofty places is 

 well known to the people of the country. 



In fact, July 1 and 2, 1827, Johnson made the ascent of the 

 peak of Tazigand or Pendjeoul: 



The natives, learning of M. Johnson's plan, tried in vain to 

 persuade him to abandon it by exaggerated accounts of the innumer- 

 able difficulties which it presented and of the dangers of the bis or 

 poisoned wind which blows over the snow. (P. 160.) 



Moreover, a fact which deserves mention and of which we shall 

 subsequently find many examples, the people dwelling in the 

 country suffer much more than the Europeans: 



On July 2, Captain Johnson occupied the same ground as that 

 where Dr. Gerard had made his barometric calculations at a height 

 of 19,411 feet (5915 meters) above sea level .... 



The natives who had guided him there found breathing very 

 difficult; they stretched out on the snow, holding their necks in both 

 hands, and the Sepoy nassir, who was the only one to reach the 

 greatest height, complained a great deal also. It is surprising that 

 our compatriots felt no distress. They occasionally experienced diffi- 

 culty in breathing; but they had blisters on the hands and feet and 

 momentary blindness from the glare on the show. (P. 162.) 



The French traveller Jacquemont seems to disagree with the 

 statements of all his predecessors. At least, he declares that he 

 felt no symptoms at heights often equal or superior to those at 

 which the English travellers suffered so greatly. This difference 



