JOURNEY THROUGH TIBET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23139, 10 September 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

JOURNEY THROUGH TIBET

By E.A.B,

Unknown Areas Visited

IN these days when we are being constantly reminded by the latest long-distance aeroplane flight how small the world has shrunk, it is welcome indeed to turn to a loook like "Black River of Tibet" and to read the story of a modern exploration in the fastnesses of a little-known and mighty country. This is not a description of a 24-hour survey made from the aloofness of an aeroplane cabin, but a real honest-to-goodncss journey over the mountains and plains and through the gorges and valleys of a Tibet for the most part untravelled previously by Europeans. The pioneers were two young men, Ronald Kaulbeck and John HanburvTracv, who, with the support of tho Royal' Geographical Society, set out in 1935 to explore the unknown parts of the Sal ween River, Tibet. They covered 3000 miles in nearly two years, and mapped for tho first time 23,000 miles of country.

Mr. Hanbury-Tracy has written his book in excellent strle. He has the ability of seeming to take the reader with him into these strange Tibetan villages, along the precarious cliff tracks, across bitter mountain passes and into the remarkable monasteries that seem so common through tha Tibetan countryside. The glamour of mystery with which most people have always surrounded Tibet is lifted in this book, but. there are no regrets. The experiences of extremes of climate in a' day's journeyings, tho Tibetan meals, and village folk, tho humours and tho strain of long journeyings, tho peace of solitude and the joy of the explorers' achievement make a book which is heartily recommended. Excellent photographs enhance its merit.

"Black River of Tibet," by John HanburyTracy. (Frederick Mullcr.)