The Washington herald., 1907-09-08
SEES DARKEST ASIA"
Newspaper Man Makes Long
and PerilOuS Journey.
LANDS ALMOST INACCESSIBLE
David Fraser. Who Represented the
London Times In SIanchuria Dur
Record Trip to Strange Places and
Returns After Two Years.

London, Sept. david Fraser who
represented the Times during the war in
Manchuria, left Gen. NogTs army at the
declaration of peace in 1865. since when
he has been travelling In Korea, China,
India, Tibet, Chinese Turkestan, Russian
Turkestan, and Persia. He has returned
home. and viii shortly publish book de-
scribing his journey. which has taken him
over long distances amid the widest and
most inhospitable Of regions 1t is note
worthy that Mr.. Fraser in the course Of
his journey crossed the Himalaya thrice),
karakorum. Kuen Len. Alai, and many
other ranges during which he saw most
OF the highest mountains in the world
from Everest downward. IN Tibet, In
company with q British officer he ira
versed country hitherto untrodden by
Europeans and narrowly escaped with his
life when endeavoring 10 return to India
through high pass blocked with snow.
The little hin country Of Sikkim." said
Mr- Fraser yesterday, describing his ad-
venturous journey In Asia, lis probably
one Of the most marvellous regions IN
the world, presenting as it does, in
close proximity. the rich luxuriance of
tropical vegetation and the wintry soil
tudes OF everlasting snow. Marching
along the slopes OF one Of its exquisite
valleys at a height Of $500 feet above sea
level we came 10 one point where we
were able TO look over a precipice that
sank almost straight down for 1000 feet
10 the bed OF the Teesta River itself, here
no more than 1900 feet abovesthe sea.
High Mountain in Distance.
"On the opposite side Of the valley was
a deep rift in the tree-clad hills. and look
Ing up this gorge the eve surmounted
ridge after ridge In quick succession, un-
I'll 1t finally rested on the top of Kinchin-
Junga, 2S,l50 feet, the third highest noun
tain In the world. No more than thirty
miles separated the Teesta from the top
Of its lordly neighbor. and in the clear air
II was almost impossible to believe that
the distance was so great. The panorama
OF dark hillside and rushing waterfall, of
serrated ridges and gloomy gorges, Of
blue glacier and lofty snowheIds afforded
by this scene Is surely one Of the wonders
OF this wonderful earth.
Hardly less marvellous than this nook
in the Eastern Himalayas are the regions
stretching north from Simla, 1900 miles
west of Sikkim. From the summer capt.
tai Of India the foothills of the great
backbone Of mountain lie tumbled in mex
tricable confusion and scored at intervals
by the sources of the famous rivers that
give its name to the Punjab The first
encountered in the Sutlej rising in the
distant mountains Of Tibet, and racing
through dark gOrges until 1t debOuehes
- -H-a-
where we crossed. Over the Jaoewri
Pass 1920 feet, we cross into the lovely
valley Of Kulu, which lies about 1900 feet
above the sea Then over the Rotang
Pass. 1850 feet, into Lahoul a country
bare and desOlate beyond belief and at
the Shlngo Pass. 1850 feet, we are in no
point lower than 1000 feet Crossing the
most rugged of al Himalayan countries.
Zanskar. where we cross four passes of
over 1900 feet above sea level before de-
scending into the valley Of the Indus, and
reaching the ancient and curious town OF
Leh, 1850 feet.
YaILs Alone Can Ascend.
"At Kurgan we are in Chinese territory.
and here we must exchange our ponies
for camels. Then comes the Sanju Pass
1880 feet, 10 surmount which it is neces-
sary to change our baggage again. for
only yaEs can climb its steep and danger
Gus ascents. Chinese Turkestan is a des-
ert indeed, but our route lies through a
succession of the most delightful and re-
freshing GASES, where milk, cream, honey,
vegetables, and the finest fruit in the
world are obtained almost for the asking
AT a height Of only 1900 feet travel IS
easy and pleasant compared 10 the toll
and hardship Of the mountainous regions
we have passed. From Khotan we Jour
ney to Yarkand, and from thence to
Kashgar in record time. covering $50 miles
in seven and One-half days, an unpreced-
ented performance for a caravan, we are
told
"a rest at KashgaT and then we plunge
into mountains once more, crossing the
Alai range by the TeTek Pass, 1850 feet,
and finding ourselves now In Russian
TuTkestan. Two hundred miles across
mountain passes that reach no higher
than 1000 feet brings US to Mehed, the
famous city Of Persian pilgrimage From
there we cross a pass between 5000 feet
to 1890 feet and continue 20 Naishapur,
where lie the bones Of Omar Khayyam:
from there to Sabzevar, Shahrud. Tere-
ran, Kazvin, the Caspian Sea, and Balu
Then eight days in the train and home
again after a journey on which we COM
passed SEQ miles on foot, $500 on horse.
camel, and yak back, besides several
thousands more by carriage and rail-