The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-08
LECTURES LAST NIGHT.


Lecture BY Professor Schlasinweit, the Asi.
aiic Explorer.
Professor Rudolph Won Schlagintweit was rendered
last evening very agreeable reception by the Amer.
lean Geographical and Statistical Society, at their
rooms in Cooper Institute. The Professor IL one Of
three brothers who have achieved worldwide re-
n6wn by their explorations Of the mountainous dis
trcts Of High Asia and Western rhibet, and his
course OF lectures recently delivered In Boston
frmed the reputation which had preceded him.
Judge DAILY the President Of the society, introduced
the Professor to the assembly, amng which were
some OF our most distinguished scieStifc men, and
even ladies had defed the storm and were present,
and in dong so the Judge referred to the fact that
had been the desire of Alexander Won Humboldt TO
instgate thorough exploration Of High Asia, being
the most elevated portion of the globe and that for
this arduous task he himself selected the three
brothers Won Schlaqintweit, Hermann, Adoph and
Rudolph. The travels OF the three extended over q
period Of four years. from 1854 to 1853, and they
visited nearly the whole OF India from Ceyon TO the
vale of Cashmere and beyond to Western Thibet.
Their investigations comprised geography, geology,
meteOrO0gy ethnolOgy; and In proOf0f the thorough
ness OF their work Judge DAILY referred to the high
Alexander Won Humboldt In the fifth volume OF the
Cosmos" The Judge also referred to the TACT that
their guest Professor Rudolph Won Schagintweit,
in company with one OF his brothers, had the honor
to ascend higher than any human being ever did on
EARTH having reached the altitude OF q $50 feet on
point, Mount Gaurisankar, or Mount Everest, being
$1,000 feet, covered with eternal snow and ice.
Professor or, tn coming fSTward
come they had extended, and immediately began
general outline OF the results Of their exploration
Partly alone, partly with his two brothers. he had
traversed High Asia and penetrated into regions
never before visited by either American European.
1t was journey OF several years full OF vicsstudes
killed at Kashkar, in August 1857, having ventured
too far. Their object was purely scientific and for
physical Instruments but were often impeded by the
difficulties OF the ground. Their geographical and
geographical explorations were crowned with sue
cess. They were able TO define with clearness the
geographical formation, the structure and direction
OF mountain chains traversing that country, the
system OF peaks and the ramncati0n OF mountains,
the colossal masses of Ice and immense attitudes OF
snow peaks. They found that what was generally
named the jlimalaya mountains, were In fact three
almost parallel ranges, the southernmOst being the
Himalaya, the middle the Karakorum and the
northern the Kunlin. The Himalaya he named the
abode Of snow Humboldt already cOnjectured this
to be the true formation OF this mountainous dis
trct, resting his belief on statements OF Chinese
geographers; and their investigation proved him
correct. They were also able to establish correctly
the geographical connguratlon OF Thibet which
was believed to be a series OF plateaux. IL Is an
immense longitudinal valley, bounded by the Hima-
fact, OF the most remarkable valleys on earth.
1t has not point which 10 not 5000 feet above the
level of the sea- and hamlets and towns are found In
higher attitudes than anywhere else or large rivers
1t has the Dihong. tributary OF the Brahmaputra,
the east, ana INDUS SauletScn rivers
west. The watershed ID not mountain chain, but
gradual rising OF the valley to point IA, 500 feet
above the sea. The Professor referred TO the two
large lakes Rakus and Manasarowar, Of which
he exhibited beautiful chromos from drawings made
by HIS brother and said that all the lakes In that
giOn are saline and brackish, the highest being
70o the lowest 010 feet above the sea- The prn
cipa watershed OF this whole region, however, Ii the
range OF the Karakorum, Tor all waters south Of 1t
empty into the Indian Ocean, like the Indus and the
Gailges and north OF It they now TO the north. As
remarkable fact he mentioned that the rivers do not
rise elsewhere, from springs, but originate In the
glaciers. They had made many valuable discoveries
OF petrfactons OF both vegetable and animal matter,
and by magnetic observations they fixed the highest
limits OF vegetation animation and Ice. Their ethno
logical Investigations were extensive, having made
persons, including SIX different species Of the race,
covering ninetyfour different tribes or stripes, some
Of which, in bronze cast from the original plaster Of
Paris negative, he exhibited. Collections in
natural history were then referred to; the
alphabets in use by the people Of that country;
samples OF their manufactures IN linen and other
materials shown and their religious habits ex
planned. Among the latter the original OF praying
machine" was exhibited, which ensbes the deyout
Buddhist to twirl his prayers on around stick in
his right hand while he attends ID his meals or
other occupation. very interesting and withal
humorous description OF religious iramatic exhibit
ton Of the Buddhists was then given, Illustrated by
drawings from nature pers0nating the contest OF the
good and evil spirits 10 gain influence over man. IN
which the good Is successful and which ends with
general scrlmmage. The Professor was loudly ap-
small IN stature but OF wiry rsne and reminds
one OF DIR. Kane, OF Arctic fame lie speaks English
rucntly and correctly, though with marked German
accent, and can easily be understood by all.