DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20132#0516
482
GENEEAE HYPSOMETRICAE TABLEAU OP INDIA AND HIGH ASIA.
and 17,000 ft.1 Apart from the extreme elevation and consequent cold, the bodily
exertions imposed upon us during our stay proved a great tax upon our powers.
Once we crossed a pass of 20,459 ft., and three days earlier, Aug. 19, 1855, we had
ascended the flanks of Ibi Gamin to a height of 22,259 ft.2 This, as far as we know,
is the greatest height jet reached on any mountain, though below that to which man
has risen in balloons.3
On the Sassar peak we attained (Aug. 3, 1856) an elevation of 20,120 ft.4 As early
as 1818, however, the brothers Alexander and James Gerard ascended (Oct. 18) a peak
in Spfti 19,411 ft. high, not far from the Porgyal, or Tazhigang.5
From a memoir just published by Captain T. G. Montgomerie, whose important
labours in connection with the operations of the G. T. Survey we have had repeated
opportunities of acknowledging, we learn that a station of 19,979 ft. has been reached
twice by Mr. W. H. Johnson, and another 19,958 ft. in height by Mr. W. G. Beverley.
A trigonometrical mark has also been erected on a point 21,480 ft. above the level of
the sea, "but unfortunately there was not sufficient space to put a theodolite on it."
In the Andes Humboldt ascended the flanks of Chimborazo (June 23, 1802)
1 In the Alps, Hermann and Adolphe once remained in the Vincenthiitte, on the southern slopes of Monte Rosa,
for 14 days, at a height of 10,374 ft. (see "Phys. Geogr. d. Alpen," Vol. II., p. 83). On another occasion they passed
a night on the Rothsattel (10,927 ft.), which unites the Finsteraarhorn with the Rothhorn; and Hermann also stayed
two days and a half on the Col St. Theodule (11,001 ft.). Here, they merely suffered at times from the cold, the
effect of rarefied air not being felt at such a height, nor does it indeed make itself apparent, under ordinary cir-
cumstances, even on the loftiest peaks of the Alps. The well known English professors, Tyndall and Frankland.
even passed the night of August 21, 1859, on the top of Mont Blanc (15,784 ft.).
2 See p. 334. With his usual amiability, Humboldt sent to our brother Emil, then staying in Berlin, the following
lines, in which allusion is made to our ascent of the Ibi Gamin: "Hire Briider waren also in Tibet, am Abhange
"des Ibi Gamin 20,886 Par. Fuss hoch, nicht bios hoher als ich und Boussingault am Chimborazo, sondern 786 Par. Fuss
"hoher als dieser." (So your brothers have reached in Tibet, on the slopes of Ibi Gamin, the height of 20,886 French feet,
being not only higher than I and Boussingault got on the Chimborazo, but 786 French feet higher than this moun-
tain itself). We could not adduce a more apposite instance of Humboldt's simple and truly scientific character than
is presented in this passage.
3 The height hitherto attained in balloons little exceeds 23,000 ft. We refer more especially to the well known
ascent of Gay-Lussac, performed as early as the beginning of this century (Sept. 16, 1804), when he rose to 23,020 ft.
(see "Humboldt's Essai sur la geographie des plantes," Paris, 1807, p. 145.), and also to the subsequent attempts of
Bixio and Barral. Within the last few years ascents have been made in England, in connection with experiments
instituted by a scientific committee, among whose members it is sufficient only to name Sabine and Sykes. See
"Philosophical Transactions," 1853, part III.
4 See p. 422. A view of the Sassar pass, in which the peak in question appears, is given in our Atlas of
Panoramas and Views. See plate No. 7.
5 "Account of Koonawur by Capt. A. Gerard." Edited by G. Lloyd. 1841, p. 291. Subsequently, Aug. 31, 1821 (?),
Dr. J. G. Gerard reached 20,400 ft. "As. Res.," Vol. XVIII., part II., p. 254.
GENEEAE HYPSOMETRICAE TABLEAU OP INDIA AND HIGH ASIA.
and 17,000 ft.1 Apart from the extreme elevation and consequent cold, the bodily
exertions imposed upon us during our stay proved a great tax upon our powers.
Once we crossed a pass of 20,459 ft., and three days earlier, Aug. 19, 1855, we had
ascended the flanks of Ibi Gamin to a height of 22,259 ft.2 This, as far as we know,
is the greatest height jet reached on any mountain, though below that to which man
has risen in balloons.3
On the Sassar peak we attained (Aug. 3, 1856) an elevation of 20,120 ft.4 As early
as 1818, however, the brothers Alexander and James Gerard ascended (Oct. 18) a peak
in Spfti 19,411 ft. high, not far from the Porgyal, or Tazhigang.5
From a memoir just published by Captain T. G. Montgomerie, whose important
labours in connection with the operations of the G. T. Survey we have had repeated
opportunities of acknowledging, we learn that a station of 19,979 ft. has been reached
twice by Mr. W. H. Johnson, and another 19,958 ft. in height by Mr. W. G. Beverley.
A trigonometrical mark has also been erected on a point 21,480 ft. above the level of
the sea, "but unfortunately there was not sufficient space to put a theodolite on it."
In the Andes Humboldt ascended the flanks of Chimborazo (June 23, 1802)
1 In the Alps, Hermann and Adolphe once remained in the Vincenthiitte, on the southern slopes of Monte Rosa,
for 14 days, at a height of 10,374 ft. (see "Phys. Geogr. d. Alpen," Vol. II., p. 83). On another occasion they passed
a night on the Rothsattel (10,927 ft.), which unites the Finsteraarhorn with the Rothhorn; and Hermann also stayed
two days and a half on the Col St. Theodule (11,001 ft.). Here, they merely suffered at times from the cold, the
effect of rarefied air not being felt at such a height, nor does it indeed make itself apparent, under ordinary cir-
cumstances, even on the loftiest peaks of the Alps. The well known English professors, Tyndall and Frankland.
even passed the night of August 21, 1859, on the top of Mont Blanc (15,784 ft.).
2 See p. 334. With his usual amiability, Humboldt sent to our brother Emil, then staying in Berlin, the following
lines, in which allusion is made to our ascent of the Ibi Gamin: "Hire Briider waren also in Tibet, am Abhange
"des Ibi Gamin 20,886 Par. Fuss hoch, nicht bios hoher als ich und Boussingault am Chimborazo, sondern 786 Par. Fuss
"hoher als dieser." (So your brothers have reached in Tibet, on the slopes of Ibi Gamin, the height of 20,886 French feet,
being not only higher than I and Boussingault got on the Chimborazo, but 786 French feet higher than this moun-
tain itself). We could not adduce a more apposite instance of Humboldt's simple and truly scientific character than
is presented in this passage.
3 The height hitherto attained in balloons little exceeds 23,000 ft. We refer more especially to the well known
ascent of Gay-Lussac, performed as early as the beginning of this century (Sept. 16, 1804), when he rose to 23,020 ft.
(see "Humboldt's Essai sur la geographie des plantes," Paris, 1807, p. 145.), and also to the subsequent attempts of
Bixio and Barral. Within the last few years ascents have been made in England, in connection with experiments
instituted by a scientific committee, among whose members it is sufficient only to name Sabine and Sykes. See
"Philosophical Transactions," 1853, part III.
4 See p. 422. A view of the Sassar pass, in which the peak in question appears, is given in our Atlas of
Panoramas and Views. See plate No. 7.
5 "Account of Koonawur by Capt. A. Gerard." Edited by G. Lloyd. 1841, p. 291. Subsequently, Aug. 31, 1821 (?),
Dr. J. G. Gerard reached 20,400 ft. "As. Res.," Vol. XVIII., part II., p. 254.