THE HIGHLANDS OF THIBET

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 9

THE HIGHLANDS OF THIBET

An article on the route of tho Thibet ■Mission, by tho special correspondent of tho “Times,” contains an interesting record of temperatures and conditions of life at high latitudes. Tho mission has necessitated tho continued exposure of a very large number of untried men to life at altitudes ranging between 10,000 ft and 15,700 ft, and tho general results aro of considerable value. Tbe lowest temperature vet reached on the route has been minus 36deg F. at Chuggia, on tho Tang-la, which was, however, only an encampment. Of actual nightly exposure to cold of men and animals Tuna probably holds the record .--with minus IVdeg F. Tho normal night' minimum during January and February is probably minus lOdeg. F. for 15,COOft, warming to 7deg. F. for 10,000 ft. Mountain sickness has been closely Observed by tho medical men accompanying tho mission. Indigestion has been common on account of the eating of imperfectly cooked food. At 15,000 ft water boils at a temperature about SOdeg F. lower than at sea-lovel, and tho normal amount of cooking is therefore quite inadequate. At 15,00ttft it is almost impossible to boil rico properly. It is difficult-to ■ make the nativeunderstand those aberrations of gastro-j logy, and a great deal of insufficient cooking lias been tho natural result.