156 Historical 



hardly set foot without risking their lives, there is no mention of 

 the symptoms of decompression. And yet the two "Pundits" cer- 

 tainly visited many lofty places, since they crossed the Himalayas 

 in Nepal, at the foot of Dhawalaghiri, followed the course of the 

 Brahmapoutra from Lhasa to Lake Manasarowar, and pushed on 

 as far as Gartokh. But since they were exclusively interested in 

 geography and politics, they did not heed phenomena which are 

 universally known, or at least they did not think they should give 

 space to them in their narrative. 



Since this native expedition gave excellent results, a few years 

 afterwards, the Trigonometrical Survey sent an employe, the Mirza, 

 whose journey M. Montgomerie 239 has related, across Hindu-Kush 

 and Pamir to Turkestan. In this account there are a few details 

 which refer to our subject. 



In January, 1869, the Mirza reached Lunghar, in the steppes 

 of Pamir: 



The whole company, when they reached Lunghar (12,200 feet), 

 suffered greatly from the Dum, as the Mirza calls it, that is, shortness 

 of breath, etc., the usual effect of great altitudes. The natives gener- 

 ally consider it to be produced by a bad wind; some of the men 

 became almost insensible, but soon recovered when the Mirza had 

 them eat some dry fruits and sugar. (P. 158.) 



At the pass of Chichik-Dawan (15,000 feet) they suffered 

 greatly; all felt extreme difficulty in breathing, which the Mirza 

 tried in vain to overcome with his sugar candy and dried fruits. 

 (P. 165.) 



At the same time, an English traveller, Hayward,' 40 was also 

 making his way towards Kashgar, but through Little Thibet, across 

 the enormous chain of Karakorum. He too is extremely chary of 

 observations relating to the rarefaction of the air. 



The journey lasted from October, 1868, to June, 1869. Crossing 

 of the pass of Masimik, at an altitude of 18,500 feet (5640 meters) : 



It presents no difficulties, is very easy, but loaded horses are 

 slightly affected there by the rarefaction of the air. (P. 36.) 



Crossing of the pass of Chang-Lang at 18,839 feet (5740 meters) 

 (p. 38) ; ascent of a peak of 19,500 feet (p. 43) , of another of 19,000 

 feet (p. 55-58), without any physiological observation; he merely 

 says: 



The chief difficulty at the Chang Lang pass is the distress of 

 loaded animals, as a result of the elevation and the rarefaction of 

 the air. (P. 126.) 



