Mountain Journeys 147 



are, in fact, extremely rare. However here is one, in which 

 Captain Robertson,'- 31 in October, 1851, reached the summit of 

 Sumeru-Parbut, at a height which he estimates as about 20,000 

 feet (6100 meters). The preceding night was passed at nearly 

 4000 meters: 



The next morning, we left our tent at ten minutes past eight, 

 and at thirty-five minutes past one reached a sloping glacier. At this 

 point, vision and respiration became very painful for Lieutenant 

 Sandilands and several of our guides .... 



Sandilands reached a spot half an hour's distance from the sum- 

 mit, where he was so affected by the rarefaction of the air that it was 

 physically impossible for him to go any further; he therefore turned 

 back, with the only Rajput who had followed him thus far, the others 

 having abandoned him long before; my Brahmin, a handsome young 

 man of strong constitution, who came with me to the summit, appar- 

 ently felt no effects, but when we reached our tent again, he could 

 eat nothing. As for me, my eyes were painful, and my respiration 

 and my vital force were affected, but yet I had enough energy and 

 physical force left to climb still higher. On my return to my tent, 

 my appetite was not affected at all, and I ate a hearty supper. 



But the most interesting accounts I have found in my reading 

 are certainly those published by Mistress Hervey. And that is 

 easy to understand; a simple tourist, not heeding politics or geog- 

 raphy, or science, she gives special attention to everything relating 

 to her health and the little incidents of her journey, which she 

 tells obligingly in all their details. Besides, since she has rather a 

 weak constitution, she seems to be easily affected at rather low 

 levels. 



So it is to mountain sickness that we must attribute part of the 

 following symptoms, although the elevation is very moderate: 



June 25. We halted (after crossing the pass of Rotung (11,000 

 feet, 3350 meters) in Lahoul) .... Captain H. came to say good 

 evening to me in my tenf about nine o'clock, and noticed that I was 

 very pale, and that my face and hands were cold and clammy. I was 

 then very sick; I was delirious; I was nauseated, my hands and feet 

 were icy cold. Convulsions came on and I frothed at the mouth. I 

 stretched myself on the ground, and remained there in great distress; 

 they gave me two doses of Luce water, and put my feet in water 

 which, though it was boiling hot, could hardly restore the circulation. 

 Yesterday I was sick all day and unable to get up; my pulse rate was 

 not less than 108. I am better this morning, but my pulse rate is 

 still very high, although less irregular. 



Captain H. declares that this sudden illness is due to the rarity 

 of the air of the pass .... If I am already affected thus, what will 

 happen at 16,000 or 17,000 feet? (Vol. I, p. 117.) 



