The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-09-27

is expected there will be much research
in geological, physiological and zoolog-
ical science. A complete Photographic
equipment accompanies the expedition,
and each camera can be used for tele-
photographic work
Among other scientific instruments
taken along are a mercurial barometer
of pattern which only comes into
action above $4,000 feet, also dupli-
cate sets of aneroids, which only be
gin to work above $4,000 and 10000
feet respectively.
The atmosphere of Mount Everests
upper peaks is said to be unbearable
by experienced mountain climbers,
who believe that the explorers will find
the cold so intense that they will be
forced to turn back. Aside from the
formidable difficulty of straining up
| the last 5000 feet it must be consid-
cred that the best route to the upper
heights can probably not be learned
on short acquaintance.
Preliminary Maps Wrong.
The Britishers spent several months
seeking the best approach to the
mountain. Everest, like other great
peaks, is an intricate and battling ag
gregation of peaks and ridges. The
general impression prevails that at or
near $4,000 feet the strongest man
and most experienced climber would
enter upon a searching test of his
! physical resources.
The explorers discovered that sew
era1 of their calculations and prelimi-
nary maps were wrong and this ham
Ipered their progress. They moved their
! base camp to the east side of the noun
tain after finding that it was impreg
nable from all other directions. Months
| have been consumed in map-making,
as the explorers had no maps of any
kind, the region being totally unknown
to white men. The surveyors have al
ready mapped out more than 5000
square miles of new country.
Found Much Vegetation
The climbers were amazed, at
! height of $4,000 to 10000 feet to find
several Tibetan villages nesting in pro-
teCted valleys between mountain
ranges. Luxurious vegetation was not
ed in these valleys, and the peasants,
after explanations by the native inter
|preters accompanying the party, made
the strangers welcome. They had new
er before looked upon a white face.
Col. Bury, in one of his recent mes
sageS to the outside world sent by a
runner, said that he found a poplar
tree 43 feet in circumference. A juniper
! tree measured Is feet in circumference
! five feet from the ground. The plains
| in the valleys were dotted with flow
ers, but once the explorers reached
| the more open country they were
Obliged to return to their sleeping bags
and awaken in the morning to find
| themselves covered with snow.
Many Hermits Discovered
A curious fact was the finding OF
many hermits and nuns living in soil
tary confinement on the mountain side,
and further along the climbers found
the Chinese natives worshipping their
god Buddha The explorers were es-
corted into the forbidden temple by
the native jongpen" and there saw
the huge figure of Buddha, so feet
high and covered with precious stones
The party reports courteous treat
ment all along the route from the ma
tives. The explorers are accompanied
| by 40 Sherpa coolies, accustomed to
! live on the heights and drawn mostly
! from the Everest region Most OF them
come from villages never seen by a
| European. The party left Darjeeling,
India, with 100 mules, but these were
later abandoned and the native yaks
were used. In turn, as the ascent be
comes more perilous, the yakS will be
discarded and the coolies will carry the
light packs, for none OF the climbers
will be allowed to be hampered with
more than the maximum OF luggage
Fear Suns Rays.
At one and the same time the men,
bers of the party will have to encoun-
ter extreme cold and the burning Ill
ira violet rays OF the sun Every ex-
posed portion of the body must be
smeared with creased paint to fend off
these actinic rays of the sun, which
are invisible, but nevertheless capable
of making terrible burns.
| The explorers have no means OF
knowing the dangers they will face as
they begin the long, perilous ascent
to the peak They do not know wheth-
er they will meet ice, strong snow or
soft snow, but the latter is feared by
all mountain climbers. The final ascent
must be made entirely on loot. Air
planes have been found impossible in
Tibet, owing to the fact that they could
not rise from the ground at high al
titude.
First plans to climb Mount Everest
were made 80 years ago, but political
complications caused the Tibetian gov
eminent to bar all foreigners from the
region. If the summit is reached this
time the feat will break all altitude