The New York herald., 1869-01-17
CASHMERE AND THlDsT,

From the Hfmmalaya % Gartok-Lecturc by
Professor Schlasinsweit.
Professor Robert Won Schlagintweit delivered the
second OF his course of lectures In English at the
rooms OF the Historical Society last evening. The
nrst series OF lectures by the professor, which viii
be remembered nom the full reports Of them which
| appeared in the HERALD. were in the German lam
guage and created such an interest in the subject
that number or gentlemen requested Mr.. Won
Schagintwelt to deliver similar series In English,
TO which he consented To all who desire to inform
themselves OF the pecularties Of the surface OF the
globe Of the vast proportions which nature has
given to mountain peaks and valleys In the
interior of the largest of all continents Asia these
lectures oner opportunity. not soon to be en-
joyed again. Professor Schlagintweit speaks Eng
lish nuently, though with q marked German accent,
which, however does not impair the distinctness OF
his utterance. His descriptive powers are OF high
order and occasionally his word pictures OF scenery
and objects rise to the POLITICALLY beautiful, while
apt comparisons OF things Thibetan with things
European serve the purpose OF humorous Illus
trattOnS.
Having in his rst lecture described the approaches
tans and gwen general outline OF the geographical
cOnfguration Of the whole OF Central or rather High
OF the Vale Of Cashmere, and q the trip Of himself
ana brothers through the Baghtrathi valley No one
20 reac =
wide, and one single false step will precipitate the
unfortunate traveller down into the frightfn abyss
This valley Is impossible for horses and among the
native population horse ia rs exotic an animal
and as seldom seen as an elephant or hippopota-
and gOaIs are used, which made to carry grain,
rice and other things In bags. The whole valley
and aaS Te a rs c
rocks are not bare and naked there vegetation the
Pnus longifoa: thescedar, the deodara grow there.
Gates the s OF God" the lecturer said that it was
the finest tree Of the pine tribe in High ASIA when
the slightest movement OF the breeze produces d
good shower and the ground below looks as II hid
grows On elevations 50 sti ana % that one
ts led to believe that beautiful 1t Is 1t was pur
Posely removed from the reach OF the destroying
hand OF man. The Professor then entered into q
minute description Of the snow and ice clad peaks of
the Himalaya range, the height Of two hundred
By the ~ srsat British ssn
survey OF India These are the highest points known
o Mount Bsnc ony to
height Of 5,7S4 feet There were II peaks In the
nmssya u Hs % oyer @ feet s 20 over feet and
50 deg IS min. OF Greenwich and not deg. as
fore published The next highest was the Kanchin-
jinga 2s l56 feet high, and che third, the sihsnr
principal passes through this range, the beautiful
climate, the dry, arid atmosphere, the deep.
the sse gce e in sbs varS
90 ,459 feet high; the lowest, the Bara-
ladIa. also in an altitude OF 1e,lse feet.
The Professor then entered upon description Of
Thibet, large longitudinal valley bounded south
by the Himalaya Mountains and north by the
Karakorum, and gave its peculiarites as they
were already published In the HERALD's report Of
the Professors German lecture. The characteristics
Of the native Inhabitants their prayer cylinders and
books and amulets and portable affairs the false pig
tails or the Chinese guards and fens and stratagems
res0rted to the Professor and his party to escape
the surveillance of the Cinnamon and his 1nal sue
cessfu arrival ct Gartok the chief city OF that part
OF Thibet detailed and the Professor closed by
to describe the passage OF the Karak0rum
next lecture.