The Gorge of the Arun

7, 5 T HEN the monsoon put aIl end to our climbing activities on Mount V V Everest it was decided to go down to Kharta for a short rest before returning to India, and if the weather permitted to visit the Kama valley. On the morning of IO June Ig22 we looked on Mount Everest for the last time, and proceeding via Rebu and the Doya La reached Teng, at the entrance to the Rharta valIey, on the r4th, after a quite uneventful journey. ,Major Norton and Captain Bruce had been awaiting us for some days, as they had come on before us in order to try and recuperate from the eXects of their frostbite. The Arun, one of the principal tributaries of the Kosi, rises behind the main chain. It drains the plains of Tingri and Khamba in Tibet, and then with the force of its accumulated waters carves its way through the main chain of the Himalaya directly between the gigantic mountain massifs of Everest on the one side and Kangchenjunga on the other. Between our camp at Teng and the village of Kyimateng, a distance of only 20 miles in a straight line, the riner drops 4ooo feet. We were particularly interested to explore this part of the Arun, and to find out whether this tremendous drop consisted of a series of great rapids and waterfalls, or af a steady fall in the bed of the river. Also it was quite apparent from our view of the river from Teng that the gorges would be of the very greatest interest. But it was doubtful whether we should be able to undertake this journey on account of transport difficulties and weather. In the mean time we made arrangements for the whole party to go over to the Eama valley. Having dumped all our heavy kit we set oS on our first march. It was a short one of only a few miles, for it was necessary to halt for the night at Kharta to pay our respects to the Dsongpen, who had done so much for the I9ZI Expedition, and in whose district we were now traveIling. Although the Kama is only two marches from here, and also forms part of the Kharta district, the Dzongpen told us that during the ten years in which he had held office he had found it quite impossible to visit the country thereabouts, as he had been told that it would be necessary for him to go a portion of the way on foot owing to the state of the roads

Geography · High Altitude and Hypoxia