790 



NA TURE 



[June 17, 1922 



This climb was by way of a reconnaissance and did 

 not entail the use of the oxygen apparatus. The 

 height attained is some 2200 ft. below the summit 

 of the mountain, and also about 2200 ft. above the 

 previous record in height, 24,583 ft., which was 

 reached some years ago on K2 by the Duke of the 

 Abruzzi. General Bruce announces that the whole 

 expedition reached the base camp at Rongbuk 

 glacier, at a height of 16,600 ft., at the end of April. 

 An advanced base was established under the peak of 

 Changtse at an altitude of 21,000 ft. The Great 

 Lama of Rongbuk monastery, which is one of the 

 holiest monasteries in Tibet, received General Bruce 

 and several other members of the expedition, and put 

 the most searching questions as to the reasons for 

 attempting the climb. The Lama was satisfied 

 with the view that the attempt was largely in the 

 nature of a pilgrimage, and he gave the expedition 

 his blessing. 



Further despatches from Gen. Bruce give details 

 of the fortunes of the Mount Everest expedition before 

 the date of a climb to within some 2000 feet of the 

 summit of the mountain. The weather improved in 

 May, but new difficulties that had to be faced were 

 the desertion of some of the local coolies and the 

 appearance of a mild form of influenza. Yet good 

 progress was made. Gen. Bruce describes the recon- 

 naissance that led to the discovery of a route leading 

 towards the Chang La or North Col of Mount Everest, 

 and the estabhshment of a camp (No. 3) at 21,000 feet 

 on a broad moraine-covered shelf under the high 

 cliffs of the north peak of Changtse. Col. Strutt, 

 who led this reconnaissance, reports on the difficulties 

 in ascending the East Rongbuk glacier and 

 particularly the side glaciers. But Major Morshead 

 contrived to find a feasible route, and all available 

 hands were to carry supplies up to this advanced 

 base while Messrs. Mallory and Somervell were pro- 

 specting the route up to the North Col which was 

 subsequently discovered. In commenting on the 

 weather conditions. Gen. Bruce expresses the opinion 

 that there are normally only two months of suitable 

 weather for chmbing in the region of Everest in com- 

 parison with at least four months in the West Hima- 

 layas. Dr. Longstafif thinks this estimate optimistic, 

 and believes that there is only one month of really 

 suitable weather. 



A FULL account of the Quest's Antarctic voyage is 

 published in the Times in articles by Mr. F. Wild, who 

 is in command of the Shackleton-Rowett expedition. 

 These articles amplify earlier telegraphic despatches. 

 The Quest evidently had her full share of the notori- 

 ously stormy weather of the Southern Ocean, but, 

 with able handling, avoided any serious mishap. 

 She is evidently of too low power to be of much use 

 among close and heavy pack, but, on the other hand, 

 her small size makes her very suitable for investi- 

 gating uncharted islands which lie clear of the ice. 

 The visit to Zavodovski Island, the most northerly 

 of the South Sandwich group, did not include a 

 landing, and the weather was too misty to allow a 

 determination of the height. Mr. Wild reports that 

 NO. 2746, VOL. 109] 



the island has no good anchorages and very few 

 landing-places. Volcanic activity was noticeable. 

 At the conclusion of the cruise across the Weddell 

 Sea, a visit was made to Elephant Island, where 

 several landings were effected and some geological 

 work carried out. Geological work was also done 

 in Cooper Bay and other bays on the northern side 

 of South Georgia. In addition to the soundings in 

 the Southern Ocean and Weddell Sea, several lines 

 of soundings have been taken off the coast of South 

 Georgia. After calls at Tristan da Cunha and Gough 

 Island, where landings will be made if weather 

 permits, the Quest will sail for Cape Town, where she 

 should arrive this month. 



The 'report of the council of the Illuminating 

 Engineering Society, presented at the Annual Meeting 

 on May 25, contained a summary of useful work, a 

 feature being the variety of topics dealt with during 

 the session and the opportunities afforded for co-opera- 

 tion with other bodies. Thus " The Use of Light in 

 Aerial Navigation " was discussed at a joint meeting 

 with the Royal Aeronautical Society, " The Lighting 

 of Public Buildings " in conjunction with the Royal 

 Institute of British Architects, and the " Use of 

 Light in Hospitals " in co-operation with the Royal 

 Society of Medicine. Attention is also directed to 

 the resumption of international relations in the 

 scientific world, an event of special interest last year 

 being the [first technical session of the International 

 Illumination Commission, at which many countries 

 were represented. The presidential address delivered 

 by Sir John Herbert Parsons also aptly illustrated 

 the need for co-ordination of physical and physio- 

 logical science. As an eminent ophthalmic surgeon, 

 Sir John is familiar with the complexities of vision, 

 and was able to show how important a knowledge of 

 this subject is to the proper study of such problems 

 as photometry and the effect of " glare " — the latter 

 a consideration which enters into daily life in many 

 ways, notably in the use of artificial illuminants and 

 the effect of motor-car headlights. 



In a paper on " The Indigo Situation in India," 

 read on March 24 before the Royal Society of Arts, 

 Prof. H. E. Armstrong criticised strongly the decision 

 of the Government of India to discontinue the work 

 of the Indigo Research Chemist appointed in 1916, 

 and expressed the fear that the action taken resulted 

 not from the prevailing need for retrenchment, but 

 from an inability to appreciate the issues at stake. 

 It will be recalled that Mr. W. A. Davis was appointed 

 to investigate the whole question of indigo production 

 in India, and that arrangements were made for his 

 first inquiries to be concentrated on the preparation 

 of an indigo paste of standard strength and satis- 

 factory fineness of division which would enable the 

 Indian product to compete successfully with the 

 German synthetic indigotin. In spite of special diffi- 

 culties resulting from the war, a satisfactory product 

 was prepared and Indian indigo paste now has a 

 ready sale in this country. Since 191 7 the larger 

 question of the elucidation of the biochemical pro- 

 cesses involved in the extraction and manufacture of 



