IN THE ICE WORLD OF HIMALAYA.
In the Ice World of Himalaya. By F. B. Workman and Dr. W. H. Workman. With Maps and Illustrations. (T. Fisher Unwin. 6s.)—Dr. and Mrs. Workman spent the two summers of '98 and '99 in the mountains. During the first they followed the route through Leh as far as the Karakorum, diverging on the home- ward journey at Kharbi so as to take in the Rangdoon Valley, the Bhot Kol Pass, and the Upper and Lower Wardwan, the valleys and their magnificent display of flowers exciting the enthusiasm of our writers. The succeeding year furnished the more interesting trip through Drosai, Shigar, Askole, as far as the Hispar Pass. Plenty of stiff climbing was done in the region of the Skoro La Glacier, Mrs. Workman and her husband ascending the Siegfriedhorn and Bullock Workman, these and the subsequent ascent of Koser Gunge being pioneer ascents. These ascents were made after the ener- getic couple had traversed the famous Biafo Glacier. Some beautiful photographs and careful -descriptions do justice, as far as it can be done, to the extraordinary scenery of the great glacier. The plates giving the peak and lower end of the glacier, the Walhalla of the Biafo, and the glacier viewed from Ogre Camp are excellent specimens of the numerous capital photographs that illustrate the work. The most charming reproduction of all, however, is the summit of the mountain named after Mrs. Bullock Workman, a smooth white, flanked by clouds. The name is hideous, but the honour can scarcely be grudged to the pioneer lady-climber. Of the drawings we must select that of Mount Meru, one of the Biafo Mountains, a peak admirably adapted for the artist. Besides the appreciation of scenery and the tone of cheerfulness which make the volume such pleasant reading of Himalayan mountaineering, readers will find its description of the trials of coolie management and the unavoidable hardships of mountain travel of considerable use should they attempt a similar experience.
Previous page
