To Start in April

Dr. Keys will leave for India Dec.20 to make arrangements for the expedition. The entire group will assemble at Srinagar, in the vale of Cashmir, April 15 and begin the 330-mile caravan journey on the famous Turkestan-Cashmir route, the highest road in the world. Twenty-five native drivers will accompany the 100 horses and 20 yaks which will carry six tons of food and equipment to the base camp site.

Scientific apparatus will be taken which will permit a detailed study of the respiration, circulation, metabolism, acid-base balance, water balance, heat regulation, cardiac performance, exertion, blood gas transport, and subjective responses in rest and in work of varying intensity. Continuous observations will be made, but especially detailed programmes will be carried out at sea level, 5,000 feet, 11.000 feet, 14,500 feet, 17,600 feet, 19600 feet and the same stations coming down. As much as possible will be done at attitude greater 20,000 feet.

Study of Alkalosis

Special attention will be paid to problems of alkalosis, the dissociation curve of haemoglobin, the fuel for musclar work at great attitudes, special characteristics of mountain dwellers, dehydration, the efficiency of sugars as food, and the behavior of the special senses.

In addition to the more obvious theoretical and practical questions involved, the results should be of a significance to the questions of prolonged auoxaemia, depletion of the alkali reserve, the effects of training, the production of red cells, and the varieties of hemoglobin.

Road at 18,000

The base came will be a short distance of the famous Turkestan-Cashmir caravan route, the highest road in the world regularly traversed by man. This road has three passes at about 18,000 feet and three other passes at more than 18,000 feet, and for a hundred and fifty miles is marked by the skeletons of man and animals who have attempted to cross the lofty heights.

The expedition will study the natives who live in such attitudes. The snow time is at about 18,000 feet here. Grazing is carried on to 17,000 feet and the natives drive their flocks as high as 18,000 feet. There are a few settlements at 16,000. One monastery is at 16,000 feet, a nunnery at 17,000 and a hermit lives at 18,000 feet.

To Study Natives

Anthropological studies of the natives will be made by Mr. Bowles in the Ladak country, ju which the base camp will be located. The people are known as Ladaki, and are almost entirely of Tibetan stock. They are Lama Buddhists in religion. The famed Cashmir wool comes from Ladak.