The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-12-05

Time was Wnen Africa was called tht
Dark Continent. partly because so 1T
tie was known OF It's vast interior, and
the maps furnished by the cartograph.
ers took 80 much for granted, when
the country. But the Dark Continent
now is fairly well explored, and parts
OF It's Interior are as well charted as
many places nearer home. But Asia.
even now, centuries after Marco Polo
traversed II, seems TO contain much
that Is new. because II Is 30 little
known. That part OF the continent
which lies along the Himalaya and on
its crest, has been so little Travelled by
moderns that until the British entered
Tibet by force recently the country
practically was an unsealed book to
the outside world.
An adventurous Englshman. David
Fraser. who represented the London
Times In Msnchuria during the Russo
Japanese war, has Just finished one OF
the most remarkable Journeys ever I'M
dertaken In Asia, and has brought back
some most allurlng photographs and
an entertaining tale OF his experiences
Fraught with Excitement.
Even In the remote East. where civ
!llzation still Is OF the most primitive
pattern, II is not impossible to take
Journey without having any thrilling
tales OF danger to tell. The people In
the Interior OF Asia are as rule pa
cihc, and the traveller who does not
make himself offensive to the natives
generally arrives at his journeys end
without serious difficulty. To imagine
there are no natural dangers is, OF
course, erroneous There are for to
climb some OF the highest mountains
In the Himalaya range is Itself an |
an experience frnught with excitement, |
and, at times. OF positive danger Mr.. |
Fraser, indeed, nearly lost his life IN
attempting to return by way OF In
dla, through pass blocked with snow.
The regions ia which he Travelled are
generally held to be the widest and
most inhosplAble In the Eurasan Con
tlnent, but the traveller, who had rs
companion a British officer succeeded
in making his remarkable trip without
any serious mlshap
After the close OF the war Mr. Fra
ser decided to make survey of the
OF Asia, In the little known !
regions OF Chinese Turkestan. Tibet,
China. India, Russian Turkestan and
Persia. or these perhaps, Chinese Tur-
kestan Is the least known to the outer
world, although Persia, beyond the
chief cities. Is almost Gan unknown !
quantity TO the average person, even II
The latter affects to be experienced.
Tibet has been entered By several tray.
elers during the last decade. notably
by Sven Hedin. The Tibetan war, II
the conflict may be so dlgnlhed. :
brought that hidden country 70 the
'front.'. and many OF Its pecularlties
have become familiar although Mr.
Fraser found there was still something
o learn there. Russian Turkestan has
,een visited, along the line OF the Rus
tan railway advance, and. consequent >
y, is not altogether an unknown coun- Il
ny. e
In the course OF his wanderlngs
through this high region, where for
months at time the traveller was at h
IN altitude OF mile or more, Mr.. a
fraser crossed the Himalaya three Z
lines, and also made Journeys across
he Karakorum, Kuen Len. and the ri
Ial. the names Of some OF which are
Unfamiliar to most readers He used st
ONE OF the most remarkable modes OF p,
onyeyance. Through Chinese Turke- "a
tan he had to rely on camels In Tibet III
he homely but entirely efficient yak n,
ras used, and In parts OF hts tour he m
lade use OF a donkey caravan. In al
edition TO these means Of transpor- m
alton he also covered 500 miles on Ia
cot M
Some Of the ground covered By MI. On
fraser has been traversed by one or or
80 other travellers during the last few ~
ears. but the part Of Tibet IN which a.
e wandered may be said to have been !,
ever trod By Europeans He was h
luch impressed b. the hill country OF -
Ikkim, q small sAte north OF India. n
Thlch nesties at the foot Of the Him =,
layas Ike pass through the grea.
,ountains. At one side lies Eepal and 1,
q the other Is Bhotan. Beyond lies 4,
be weird and mysterious country Of o.
bet 4,
One Of tho World. MAryeIs. n
The Sink country, be relates, SIS IA
robably one Of the most marvellous
szons Ia the world, presenting, az II
oss, in close proximity the rich lux, "
rance Of tropical vegetation and tho u