MAN-LIFTING KITES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 207, 27 May 1919, Page 5

MAN-LIFTING KITES

Before the Royal Geographical Society Major J. B. Noel, Machine-gun Corps, gave an account of a journey to Tashirak, in Southern Tibet, and the eastern approaches to Mount Everest. He pointed out that during 'he last few years attention had been focussed more and more upon the Himalayas, and now that the Poles had been reached it was generally felt that the next and equally important task was the exploration and mapping of Mount Everest. This would, perhaps, havo already been done but for the war, mid the lamented death of General Rawling. A "hoto graphic survey of the mountain by aeroplane was possible, because a direct liigiil nud return could be made from the plains of India without the necessity of landing in the mountains," but _ i greater difficulty was found in tho ■ high winds of Tibet. A development of air work in connection with Tibetan travel that suggested itself was Ilie use of nionlifting kites. These were portable, and, with the strong, steady winds of Tibet, could raise'an observer EOOft. in tho air— a height which would give good observation over tho plains. Major Noel undertook the journey to Tashirnk in 1913 to .worn'"'*™ the approaches to Mount Everest bevond the Sikkim frontiers in Southern Tibet. Tho party met with considerable resistance from tho inhabitants. Some day, however, lie said, the political difficulties would be overcome, Mid a fully eouiwpcu expedition must explore and map Everest.