Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-11-16

Its exquisite valleys at a height of
$500 feet above sea level we came to
one point where we were able to look
over a precIpice that sank straight
down for 1000 feet to the bed of the
Teesta River Itself, here no more than
1900 feet above the sea.
ION the opposite side of the valley
was a deep rift In the tree-clad hills,
and looking up this gorge the eye sur
succession, until it finally rested on the
top of Kinchinjunga. 2S,150 feet, the
third highest mountain In the world.
No more than thirty miles separated
the Teesta from the top of its lordly
neighbor, and In the clear air 1t was
almost impossible to believe the dis
lance was so great"
The panorama spread before the
traveller at this point did not fall to
make a conquest of Mr. Fraser. ut
looked he said, "as II the very foot
OF Kinchinjunga was set in a tiny
thread of silver that cleaned far be-
low us, and that his mighty tanks rose
sheer until they ended In the twin
white peaks, 26,650 feet above. The
dark hillside and rushing waterfall, OF
serrated ridges and gloomy gorges, of
blue glacier and lofty snow fields az
forded by this scene Is surely one of
the wonders of the world"
Peak Five Miles High.
IIotoh+s - mountains In tba JiOo
laya region, where they are the great
est In the world, are difficult to- COM
prehend by those who have never been
so fortunate as to climb, or attempt to
climb. these immense elevations. But
fair Idea OF the height OF Kinchln-
junga may be had by the simple state
ment that, could the mountain be laid
on It's side, and Its base placed at Del
aware avenue. its summit would be
found to be at Goth street, or within
few hundred feet of five miles.
The traveller found another marvel
Gus country In the regions stretching
north from Slmla, where official India
spends the summers. 1000 miles west
of Slkkim From the summer capital
Of India" he says. "the foothills of the
great backbone of mountain lie tum-
bed in inextricable confusion and
scored at intervals by the sources Of
the famous rivers that give It's name
to the Punjab. The first encountered
is the Sutlej. rising in the distant
mountains of Tibet and racing through
| ~ Lob. l..
plains 300 miles below the point where
we crossed. Over the Jaolewri Pass.
10000 feet. we cross into the lovely
valley of Kulu. which lies about 1000
feet above the sea. Then over the Ro-
tang Pass. 1880 feet, into Lahoul. n
country bare and desolate beyond be-
lief, and at no point lower than TO-
600 feet Crossing the Shlngo Pass.
5000 feet, we are In the most rugged
Of all Hlmalayan countries. Zanskar.
where we cross four passes Of over
10000 feet above sea level before de-
scending into the valley of the Indus
and reaching the ancient and curious
town of Leh, 800 feet"
Travel Through CIoudIand.
Here it seems that the voyagers la We
hardly made a beginning, for immedl-
ately north of Leh lies the Kharduna
Pass, 1880 feet, quickly followed by
drop to 10000 feet. and then another
rise to the Saser Pass, $4,000 feet.
Between these two" says Mr.. Fra
ser, 1--WE engage a large caravan OF
ponies to carry the baggage. for In
fourteen days travel there will be NJ
habitations, no food for man or beast
nor even fuel by the way. Everything
must be carried except water, Of which
alas, there is too much in this sum
mer season, when the hot sun daily at
tacks the eternal SHOWS that flank thu
route. From the top OF the Saser W.
drop into the valley of the Shyok RIv
er, 1900 feet. where great glacier
poke their shouts across the valley
and choke up the passes. Through
long, deep gorge we slowly and labor
lously climb to the Depsang plain,
great stretch OF smooth gravel beds, IT,
900 feet above the sea, and over whicl
we take day to travel.
Beyond Depsang we rise to tn
lofty Karakorum Pass, 1880 feet, an
In three days later cross the Suge
Pass, 1900 feet. after which we dro
down to 1000 feet. and once more en-
counter human beings and some vegs
) tation."
From CameIx to Yaks.
Arrived at Kurgah, the traveller
= were on Chinese territory, and tn
ponies were exchanged for camels, vo