The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-20
CENTRAL ASIA.
Fourth Lecture by Professor Robert v0u
SchIngintweit - Tho Highest Mountain II
rhe Notwithstanding

Fourth Lecture by Professor Robert Won
SchIagintweit = Tho Highest Mountain In
the Mountaineering Sketches.
The fourth lecture on High or Central Asia was
delivered by Professor Robert Won Schlagintweit on
Friday evening again before very large and appre
ciative audience. He began by detailing the ascent
OF himself and brothers OF Mount Ibi-Ganim. reach
ing to the height Of % 259 feet higher than
set foot on mountain before, though not so high as
some nave reached in balloons among whom he
mentioned Guy Lussac, who, on September 10, 1904,
rose 2302o feet; Bixio and Barral, who ascended
3D. o09 on July 81, 1866 Dr. Welsh, % $780, November
TO- 1852; but the highest altitude, even in balloons,
was reached by Glaisher on September D 1882, viz,
nearly 50, 600 feet. In the Andes Humboldt assembled
l92S6 feet In June 3D. 1882. Gerard in High
Asia, came TO 20, 400 feet August 81, 1925 and
n tngonometrcal signal had been planted ut height
OF $50 feet The Professor then described the pre-
parations they made for their descent OF the hi
Ganim, and he gave very interesting description
the clearness and ratification OF the atmosphere IN
these attitudes where the pressure OF the column OF
Ii affect all races alike-even those indigenous to
the country. Headache difficult breathing, want OF
Of blood, mental depression, languldness OF body
were mentioned as some OF the principal symptoms.
Nose bleeding also If the nose be rubbed, and
other travellers like Humboldt, Burmeister and Wag-
ner have found that in the Andes bleeding OF the gums
and lips ensued and blood OOZing opt from that
portion OF the eyelids called t,ticd cOninctiU0; but
these latter effects not experienced in High ASIA
Hence 1t was found that in other high mountain
ranges this atmospheric influence was more intensive
in lower attitudes than in Central Asia, where the
first effect, slight intermittent palpitation Of the
heart was felt only after passing 500 feet whereas
in the Andes this occurs already at TO- 700 feet and
Mont Blanc with its height OF 15,497, it Is not
experienced at all. Very interesting as showing the
nexiblity OF the human organism were the expert
ences of Humboldt, who in diving bell sustained
himself with the mercurial column in the barometer
at i0rty-hve inches, and also on the ChimbOrazO,
with the same column as low as eleven inches five
lines. After many more highly interesting and in
sructve details the Professor spoke Of the heights
which is not above l0,4Oo feet. The highest in the
world was the Convent Hane in Thibet,
1917 feet high; the highest In Europe was
the Convent OF ST. Bernard, STA Potosi,
In the COrdilleras de los Andes, was 1906; Cerro
de Pasco, l4,O9S; Santa Barbara, a mining hamlet,
14,50S. One Paul de CarmOa claims to have formed
village which he called Puebla de Ocoruro, 1S,454
and Cuzco, but this the Professor believes to be
mistake; it may be kind OF temporary abode for q
short time during the year, for a permanent resi-
dence at such a height was impossible The Profess
then spoke OF the district Of Ladaka, the north
western continuation OF the Chinese province Of
GnarKhorsum. Ladaka Is dependency of the
Maharajah, "a King OF Cashmere, who is himself de-
FORE been more visited by Europeans. The capital
city s Leh, where the three brothers Schlagntwet
met again in June, 1855. Ii Is half hours distance
from the right bank of the Indus and is situated at
hight OF H. 527 feet above the detailed descrp
ton OF the city followed aided by drawings OF the
scenery, the manners OF the people, their religious
practices and system OF worship an interview with
to visit Turkestan, with which latter the lecturer
closed.