Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII THE ROOF OF THE WORLD I scaled precipitous mountain crags clad with snow: found my way through the scarped passes of the Iron Gates;--I have traversed the valley of Pamir.--Life of Hiuen Taiang, Beal. The Pamirs are both fertile and barren, both habitable and desolate, both smiling and repellent according to the point of view from which they are regarded. They are among the deliberate paradoxes of nature.--The Pamirs and the Source of the, Hon. Geobge N. Cubzon. It was a thrilling thought that I was about to tread in the footsteps of some of the intrepid travellers in High Asia, such as the Buddhist monk, Hiuen Tsiang, Marco Polo, Wood, the first Englishman to enter the Pamirs, and many another whom the Red Gods called to feats of daring and endurance. But my lot was an extremely easy one compared with theirs; for, being the only woman of the party, I was guarded and protected in every possible way. Perhaps some of my readers may be a little vague as to the exact meaning of the word Pamirs. They are described by Sir Thomas Holdich, the eminent geographer, as "valleys reaching up in long slopes to the foot of mountain peaks," and they are known by the Persian term of Bam-i-Dunia or Roof of the World. On that June morning we were up at 5 A.m. and, although snow had fallen during the night, the day was fine and gave good hopes of a successful crossing of the pass. It was bitterly cold, but my leather coat was impervious to wind, a Shetland shawl swathed my pith-hat and neck, and I had besmeared both face and feet plentifully with vaseline and therefore felt prepared to meet whatever might befall. When we had seen our baggage yaks loaded we walked up the narrow valley, down which ran a little stream..."
