Into the Unknown

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23205, 26 November 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

Into the Unknown

By R.M.A.

griefs shall bo forgotten I 1 to-day, for the air is cool . and still, and the hills are high and stretch away to heaven." With these words from the pen of Thomas do Qnincey, Mi*. Shipton introduces us to as thrilling and interesting a book on mountaineering as ono could well wish to discover. "Blank oh the Map" is tho alluring title of an account of exploration and adventure in tho' Karakoram region to tho North-West of India. An earlier volume bv tho same writer, "Nanoa Devi," attracted a great deal of attention at the timo of its publication and this later ono certainly deserves to rank with it as a valuable contribution to the ever-growing number of good books devoted to tho theme ot adventure among high hills. Mr. Slnpton's stylo is never dull; he writes with imagination and with vivacity. Above all, lie displays a senso of humour that is at all times most captivating. Tho area selected by tho author as the goal of his labours was tho Shaksgam region which lies ''somewhere on the undeniarcated frontiers of Chinese Turkestan, Hnnza and Kashmir. As I studied tho 'maps,' " lie tolls one thing about them captured my imagination. Tho ridges and valleys which led up from Baltistnu became increasingly high and steep as they merged into' tho mass of peaks and glaciers of tho Karakoram, and then suddenly ended in an empty blank space. Across this blank space was written ono diallonging word, 'Unexplored.' ' 3u that, ono word lay tho whole reason ior the expedition. Tho call was heard and answered; the challenge was at once accepted. Weeks, even months, of intensive preparation followed. At last, on tho morning of April 26, Tihnan, Spender and the author pitched their "first caning on tho railway platform of Rawalpindi, thero to await the arrival of their Shorpa porters. They were joined by another liuropoan, Auden, and, to-

Mr. Eric Shipton T

got her, they inado their way by lorry to Srinagar which was to be the real starting-point of tho expedition. A start was' nuulo on May 5, ancl lrom then on for some weeks there were daily marches each of sonio 15 or 20 miles, including the crossing" of a high pass at an altitude of some 11,000 feet. \

At Askole, tho party came face to face with its most serious problem. Tho whole of the equipment and about 0110 and a-half tons of food bad to be transported across tho mniji Knrakornm range into tho Shaksgam basin. "It was tho old problem which has to bo faced whenever a journey is being planned through country where there aro 110 supplies, and where everything has to bo carried; a party cannot travel for many days without the carriers being burdened with so much of their own food that they cannot carry anything else. 111 this respect a man is a very inefficient beast of burden; for he eats more in proportion to his carrying power than any of his fourlegged rivals." It is tho crossing of that rango and what happened afterwards that constitutes the theme of a thrilling and delightful book. Of hardships and privations there are enough and to spare. Of human courage and endurance 111 the faco of difficulties and real danger thero aro examples in plenty. I.ho story is an enthralling one; it is splendidly told, and tho author and his companions, including the porters, aro to bo congratulated upon the ningnificenco of their achiovcmont. Iho publishers, too, deserve very great praise for tho reyiarkably fine manner 111 which tho largo number of very interesting photographs have boon reproduced. This book could not disappoint any reader whatever his particular tastes mav be; to those who still can'feel tho thrill of high adventure, and to lovers of mountains ih particular, Mr. Shipton's story should mako an instant and deep appeal.

"Blank on the Map," by Eric Shipton (Hoddcr anil Stonpfhton.)