Sir Francis Younghusband announced on Monday that the Royal Geographical
Society and the Alpine Club had at last received permission to send an expedition to climb Mount Everest. The highest mountain in the world, whose altitude is now computed to be 29,142 feet, stands on the Himalayan frontier between Nepal and Tibet. The political seclusion of Nepal cannot be disturbed ; but the Tibetan authorities, who are now on very friendly terms with India, have agreed to let a British expedi- tion climb the northern side of the mountain. General Bruce, who has studied the problem closely, thinks that Mount Everest can be approached most easily by Sikkim and the high Tibetan valleys to the north-west of that state. As Mount Everest is only one among a cluster of lofty peaks in an unexplored pad; of the Himalayas, the district must be reconnoitred and mapped this summer. Next year an attempt will be made to reach the summit. The Duke of Abruzzi's party in the Karakorams attained a height of 24,600 feet by most strenuous efforts. It remains to be seen whether, with careful organization and the scientific appliances used by airmen, a few expert climbers can conquer Mount Everest. The attempt is well worth making.
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