A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. 



with occasional vomiting, and even bleeding at the 

 nose and ears. This is scarcely to be wondered at 

 when the fact is taken into consideration that the 

 atmospheric pressure at a height of 14,000 feet is, 

 roughly speaking, one-half of what it is at sea-level. 

 The oxygen is therefore greatly reduced, with the 

 effect of making respiration a much more difficult 

 matter. It is curious to observe here, how the 

 slightest upward incline seems to be as " pumping" 

 as a steep climb would be at a lower elevation. 

 This feeling is of course increased by any exertion, 

 such as running, and the heart begins to beat at a 

 tremendous pace ; in fact, I have felt the heart-beats 

 of a pony that I have, been riding, just as one feels 

 the throbbings of the engines on board an ocean 

 steamer. Never shall I forget climbing up a 

 steepish bank at an elevation of perhaps 19,000 feet, 

 and immediately afterwards trying to light my 

 pipe ; the inhalation caused me to feel as if (in 

 schoolboy phrase) someone had "taken my wind " 

 violently. One soon learns to adopt a system of 

 respiration, which I found universal amongst the 

 natives of these regions, of taking a much longer 

 and deeper breath than is our ordinary habit. 

 Remedies suggested for this discomfort are chlorate 

 of potash and coca ; but I think that one gets 

 accustomed to the rarefied atmosphere in a short 

 time, and feels no ill effect, as long as no extra 

 exertion is necessary, though the experiences of 

 individuals seem to vary greatly. Amongst my 



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