EVEREST EXPEDITION

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1921, Page 1

EVEREST EXPEDITION

A THIBETAN MQNASTRY. LONDON, July 28. The following despatch haa come to hand from Colonel Bury:— “ Trekking up the picturesque valley of the Bhong-Chu River, flanked withhills, from which the most wonderful views can be obtained for 100 miles, we reached Tingrid-Zong, a small trading mart, siutated on an isolated hill in the middle of a great plain, sloping up towards Mount Everest and the wonderful chain of snowy mountains f’.om 25,000 feet to 27,000 feet high, forming the Tibet-Nepal boundary. “ Tingrid Zong will eonstitue our lmso for stores and supplies while we are reconnoitering the appalingly steep northern and north-western approaches to Mount Everest. Along the Bhong alley donkeys are our sole means of transport, owing to rinderpest. They are most diminutive, but are capable of carrying heavy loads. “We reached Kishong, a pretty village. surrounded by willows and ?eabuekthorn. In a nearby valley, though it is 15,000 feet above sea level, we found a mass of wild roses and juniper. The roses are cream coloured, and most sweetly scented. Patches of soft, green grass and bubbling springs form a delightful contrast to tho rest of the rather arid region. “ Shokaid-Zong ip a most- remarkable place, with a huge monast-ry, containing 400 monks, clinging to the hillside. The ecclesiastical .Tongpen welcomed us with Tibetan tea, made with butter and salt, and offered us macaroni mince. “We visited the monnstry. v -’ consists of innumerable terraced build, inrrs on the steepest slope. Ascending winding streets to the main courtyard wo met the official head of the tuonastry, appointed from Thnssa. The main temple smelt most strongly of the raneid butter, whieh is burnt in the lamps. “The temple contains several lifesized Bndhas, studded with . precious stones and turquoises. Behind them stands a colossal figure of Budha, 50 feet high, and round the temple are eight figures, each 10 feet high, curiously dressed in a costume. with flounces. These are the guardians of the shrine. “We went up steep, slippery ladders in darkness, and came out on a platform opposite the* gilded face of Buddha, where there were profuse offerings of grain and butter, and e\quisitivelv carved silver and curious chain armour. « AYo called on the old abbot of tho monastry, who is supposed to he a reincarnation of a former abbot. He is a. most charming old man of 5(1 years, and is worshipped hy the monks of the monastry, who induced him to ho photographed. “ All wanted a picture, since his time on earth would he so short. For the photo, lie was dressed up in beautiful cold brocades and priceless silk hangings. The monks had never seen photos hut had heard about them, and were very excited. «Morshcnd and his surveyors are very busy observing from the hills of Bhong-Chu. All this was new and unsurveyed countnh of whieh thev have now mapped out 25.000 square miles.”