The Semi-weekly leader., 1921-08-06

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. d. CO.
Nepal, In which is situated much Of
Mt. Everest, the worlds highest pin
nacle, which is now being attacked
by an elaborately equipped British
scientific expedition, Is the true "her-
NIT kingdom" of today. The govern
ment purpoSely keeps the roads which
lead from India to Napal In bad con-
= dition, and travellers are admitted to
but one small valley, and then only
for special reasons upon a difficulty
obtained permit.
This kingdom which holds itself so
aloof from the world Is a narrow strip
Of country about 100 miles wide and
500 miles long, extending for nearly
a third of the distance between India
and Tibet along the sky-piercing
Himalayas. On the south it includes
a very narrow strip of plains country,
but predominantly 1t is a mountain
Gus region. In fact, It's possession of
Mt. Everest and some Of the other
of the highest mountains In the world
give it claim, In one sense at least, to
be the most mountainous Of countries.
The Nepalese are a fighting people,
have an excellent army and organiza-
ton, and are fond of show, both In
military display and in their religious
festivals. The latter are very numer-
GUS, and in fact seem to be intermin-
able. The women take prominent
part In most of them.
Some of the semi-military pageants
end in the massacre Of hundreds of
buffaloes. In one such ceremony,
known as the blessing Of the colors,
the commander In chief dips his hands
In a bowl Of blood and clasps each
banner In turn, thus imprinting on
each the mark Of bloody hands. The
scene Is somewhat revolving, but prob
ably has its use in keeping up mar
tial spirit in the army.
VolumInous Dresses of Women.
The Nepalese women wear yards
upon yards-sometimes as many as a
hundred-of fine muslin plated to
form a huge fan-shaped bunch in front,
the back being quite tight. When a
lady of rank drives in her barouche
she completely fills the carriage with
her voluminous skirt Of brilliant hue.
Above the skirt a vivid little tight-f1t-
ting jacket, usually Of velvet, is worn !
the hair is dressed in a peculiar knot
In front, above the forehead, and fas-
tened to one side by an enormous gold
plaque with a jeweled center. A
heavy gold necklace and gold bangles
complete her jewelry. Every imag-
Unable shade is used-purple pale
blue, green, carmine, orange, white,
yellow, turquoise, and deep red-and
the effect is wonderful.
At the time Of state ceremonies the
streets are filled with professions of
elephants in gorgeous trappings,
horses and ponies, brilliant military
uniforms, and the usual crowd Of
good-natured, pleasure-loving people,
the whole against the background of
the old temples and natural surround
ings making wonderful spectacle.
The journey into Nepal is not an
easy one. At first there Is a track
through the forest, but as soon as the
outer hills are reached the road loses
itself in the bed Of a stream, up which
the bearers pick their way with diff
Guilty over and among great bouldery:
The official road finally goes over the
very rough track across the Chandra-
girl pass and down the almost i'm
passable road on the other side into
the Nepal valley. The last portion
of the descent is down long stair
case of roughly-placed blocks of stone,
and it is marvellous how the laden men
and ponies keep their footing on it.
In the NepaI Valley.
From the foot of the pass an excel
lent carriage road into the town Of
Khatmandu runs through the valley
teeming with people, towns, palaces,
temples, and innumerable shrines.
There are miles Of such good carriage
roads within the valley, mostly con-
structed in Jung Bahadur's time, and
carriages and pairs, and occasionally
four-in-hand are constantly used by
the palace people.
In this valley, where the shrines
alone are said to number more than
2,700. the buildings present an amaz-