The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎378v] (109/232)

682
THE MONTHLY RECORD.
passes, and glaciers of the Western Himalayas, with a brief account of an abortive
autumn expedition into Sikkim. In the first season, 1898, the travellers cycled to
Srinagar, which they made their starting-point for a tour among the mountains of
Ladakh, Nubra, and Suru. In 1899 they adopted a more ambitious programme,
securing the services of the well-known guide, Mattia Zurbriggen, and accomplishing
some pioneer ascents in Baltistan, in the vicinity of Askole, near the foot of the
Great Biafo glacier. The peaks ascended varied in height from 18,600 to nearly
21,000 feet, and the difficulties encountered taxed all the energies of the travellers,
experienced mountaineers as they were. The authors regard as a complete delusion
the idea that, apart from their altitude, the Himalayas are easy mountains to
ascend, giving it as their opinion that many of the peaks will never be scaled by
any creature without wings. The book makes no pretensions to scientific value,
but the views and descriptions give a good idea of the sublime scenery of the snowy
Himalaya, while Dr. Workman’s remarks on the physiological effects of high
altitudes are of some interest. Some additions to and rectifications of the maps
were made, especially by the discovery of a large crescent-shaped glacier south and
west of Mango Guzor, the highest of the peaks ascended. In the absence of
native names for the features described, the travellers have given to these names
of their own, which are not always felicitous. The appellation Siegfriedhorn,
bestowed on one of the peaks ascended, sounds decidedly out of keeping with its
surroundings. The explanations of Indian terms given in a short glossary are in
several cases inadequate, if not misleading.
The Trade of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . —The report for 1899, by Lieut.-Colonel
Meade, on the trade of the Persian gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , records an improvement as compared with
1898, though less than had been anticipated, owing to failure of rain towards the
end of the season. This affects the export of cereals, on which the trade of the
region largely depends, and which will have assumed larger proportions during
the present year, as an abnormal harvest was expected. At most of the Persian
gulf ports India heads the list, both of imports and exports, while, except at
Bushire, the direct trade with the United Kingdom is but small. Apart from local
trade, the only other countries having any large dealings with the Persian gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. are
China, which takes opium from Bushire to the value of £285,000; and Turkey,
whose trade is principally carried on with Bahrain. From that port pearls were
exported in 1899 to the value of £454,900, as compared with £299,500 in 1898;
and from the Arab coast ports to the value of £516,600, as compared with £343,700
in the former year. As regards shipping, Great Britain still practically holds the
monopoly in the gulf, that of all other European nations being quite insignificant..
Turkish shipping is represented principally at Bahrain and Bushire, while the trade
between the Arab coast and Persian ports (principally Lingah) is chiefly carried on
by Persian vessels. The rest of the local trade is mainly in the hands of Arab and
Muskati owners. The report of the Vice-Consul at Mohammerah announces the
re-opening of the direct trade-route from the Karun to the north of Persia, and
also the completion of the new Ahwaz-Ispahan mule road, so that an increase of
trade by the Karun—which in 1899 showed a falling off—may now be expected.
Map of Afghanistan: Correction— In the map of Afghanistan and
Baluchistan published in the November number of the Journal, the Bussian
railway from Merv to the Afghan frontier is made to terminate at the Jamshidi
capital Kushk. This is an error. It terminates at the Russian station of Kushk,.
which is on the river of that name, at (or near) the point where the river intersects
the Russo-Afghan boundary. The two places are quite distinct, and it is unfortu
nate that they should be called by the same name, although doubtless the
Jamshidi Kushk has long been overshadowed by the Russian settlement.