3^4 
THROUGH ASIA 
horizontal distance of which from the western foot of the 
mountain is very considerable ; and on the other hand, 
that it is not prudent to sleep at the height of 20,000 feet, 
because a night spent at such an altitude impairs the 
physical strength and induces a feeling of lassitude and 
depression. The best way to reach the top would, 
without doubt, be to wait for a clear, calm day in the 
beginning of July, to break up camp early from a depot 
situated 1 5,000 feet up, and from there make the final 
ascent in a single day. Should any such attempt be made, 
the yaks ought to be taken as high as they can possibly 
be got, and when they cannot be got any further, the 
ascent should be continued on foot. Unfortunately I had 
no time to make a new attempt, partly on account of 
the advanced season of the year, partly on account of the 
stormy character of the autumn. 
In any case the western foot of the mountain is the best 
point of departure for making the ascent, because it is 
at an altitude of from 12,000 to 13,000 feet to start with, 
and the slope on that side is less steep. From the east, 
south, and north the mountain is inaccessible. 
A bold Alpine climber in good training, and accom- 
panied by a couple of hardy and experienced Swiss guides, 
would probably reach a considerable height, and possibly 
the northern summit itself. But even a Swiss guide, how- 
ever well trained, would find himself in quite an unknown 
world, for the summit of the M us-tagh-ata is directly 
exposed to the full force of the sun’s rays, and exceeds 
the highest mountain in Europe by fully 9000 feet. 
Farewell then, Father of the Ice Mountains! Thou 
didst suffer me to kneel before thy snow-white footstool ; 
but didst not permit me to behold thy august presence 
face to face and eye to eye. Farewell, thou mighty 
sovereiofn of the Mants of the Pamirs, at once a 
corner-stone of the earth’s loftiest mountain -range and 
the topmost pinnacle of the Roof of the World! At thy 
knees thy mighty children, the Kwen-lun, Kara-korum, 
Hindu-kush, and Tian-shan, kneel together hand in hand. 
Farewell again, thou beauty-spot on the venerable face of 
