Slept on the train and then changed to a car at Siliguri at 6:40am. Donned fur gloves, a thick rug and an overcoat for the run to Darjeeling, as we rise seven thousand feet in a drive of 52 miles round the mountain side. Another hair-raising run in a rattling good car, but it got us there, crossing railway lines every few yards at times. Arrived Mount Everest Hotel for lunch and Mr Davenport the manager of one of Andrew Yule and Co.’s gardens, “Singtom”, called to take us to one of the factories. I thought it best to rest as the slightest exertion made me gasp for breath and feel light headed owing to the high altitude. When they bring fresh soldiers into this district they give them fifteen days to get used to the climate before putting them to work. I have a good coal fire in my bedroom and am off to bed early tonight. Mac and Beriff rise at 3am to ascend Tiger Hill to see the summit of Mount Everest – not for me. I want the fifteen days training first.
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