The record-union., 1892-11-25

over the three passes at the head Of the
serac glacier,and behold mountain masses
q extraordinary grandeur showing above @
them. At length the slope we were
climbing became less steep. and with Il
IeW more steps we stood, at 2:45 =. H.,
on the ground of the third peak on the
ridge, at an altitude of about -, 900 feet.
Here a surprise awaited us. The
Golden Thrones summit was still 1.30D
1eet above us, but the peak we were on
was absolutely cut oil from it by a deeD
depression, OF whose existence we had
necessarily been Kept in ignorance TIL
now. We had climbed another nlount-
ain, and our work was done. We were
glad OF it. l imagine that when nv OBJ
scrNatlons are properly reduced, the alti-
tuue OF our mountain viii come out from
=, 40 feet to . 900 feet more than th,t
we named it Pioneer Peak UnfOrtunate-
Iy. the broad extended arms Of the Golden
Throne shut out much Of the distant pan
Drama from us on one side, and a grand
snow pyramid Of over -, 1000 feet on the
olher also intercepted the view to the
South, though It's own noble aspect was
compensation enough. But framed in
lne passes l have mentioned there were
glorious mountain pictures, that to the
sOuln, looking straight down the great
hondus Valley, ana away over the be-
WlIderlng lntrlcdcy of the lower Ladaz
Ranges being specially fine, and rem
dered all the more solemn by the still
root OF cloud poised above it at q hight Of
about 5000 feet. When one beh0lds a
small portion Of nature near at hand. the
action OF ayalanChes, rivers and winds
seem tremendous; but in a deep extend
ing view over range alter range OF mount
ans, valley beyond valley, Natures
forces are reduced TO a mere trembling
InSlgnlhcance, and the whole effect is Of
majestic repOse. The clouds seemed
stationary above the mountain kingd0m.
Not sound broke the utter stiffness Of
the arr. we ceased TO pant for breath the
moment the need for eXertion was with
drawn and the breeze began to play mon
us. "A delicious lassitude and for0etfnl-
ness OF past labor Superyened uDon of,r
overwrought frames.
But the moments were precious. and
each must be used to the best ADVANTAGE
Inc sickness OF two OF the Goorkha re-
uuceu the number OF instruments that
could be carried, and | greatly lamented
the absence OF my little theodolite. whose
pace was lhehlclently supplied by a pris-
natlc compass and d cliuOmeter With
these L took round OF angles. | next
photographed the panorama twice r0und
Ihen the turn OF the plane-tabIe came.
anu was aDIe TO sketch in an important
%luIiloh +4IC on 10 lhe glacier survey. Meantime
tne barometer had been accommodating
us temperature to that of the surround
ing air (54 Fabr.). 1t stood at 30 in.
ana yet we telt no insufficiency in the
supply of oxygen, and Zurbriggen was
able to smoke his cigar in comfort. Fi-
naIly | took tracinEs with the sphvgnlo-
graph Of Iurbriggen's pulse and mine.
and here the damaging effect Of altitude
made itself apparent. Our lungs were
working well enough, but our hearts
were being sOrely tried, and mine was i'm
particularly bad state. We had ali
nearly reached the limit Of our powers.
We could have walked up hill 700 feet
more or 50, but we could have done no
more difficult climbing, and Xurbriggen
SAID that he could have cut no more steps.
If we could have had tents and warm
wraps and spent the night at this point,
we should, / believe, have been able TO
/ restore our forces and 10 have climbed
another 1900 feet next day; but we were
all weakened, not so much by the work
OF the previous hours as by the continued
strain OF the last three weeks. There
was no debate about what we should do
next. We all knew that the greatest we
were going to accomplish was now done.
and that hence1OrWard nothing remained
for US but downward and homeward."