APPENDIX B
FROM DISCUSSION OF THE PAPER BEFORE THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, FEBRUARY
8, 1904
AFTER the reading of the paper—Sir THOMAS HOLDICH I : Mr. Crosby has given us a very vivid description of the desolate nature of one of the remote corners of Tibet up in the extreme north-west, and he has expressed an opinion, which I think we most of us share, that it is absolutely impossible for any large party, any force of any size, to journey from north to south across the wild and bleak and desolate region of the northern half of Tibet down into the southern, which is of a very different character—the valley of the upper Brahmaputra. But perhaps it will be interesting to you to know that this question as to the feasibility of crossing the Alai Mountains was discussed four hundred years ago just as keenly as it is discussed now. Just about the same time that the Emperor Baber was establishing the Mongol dynasty in India, a general of his, who was much connected with Central Asian affairs, discussed the question as to whether it was possible to reach Kashmir by the same route which Mr. Crosby attempted and found impracticable. He came to the conclusion that it was not possible, so he resorted to the route which Mr. Crosby finally took, and crossed the Karakoram; and he crossed, with not half a dozen
I Former Surveyor-General of India.
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