Khumbu Himal (Nepal), edited by Forschungsunternehmung Nepal Himalaya (Research Scheme Nepal Himalaya), Schloss Nymphenburg Nordflügel, Munich 19, Germany: 1965. Price $2.50.

This excellent map finally gives us a highly accurate picture of the terrain from well beyond Cho Oyo on the west to Makalu on the east, from the Tibetan plateau on the north to Namche Bazar on the south. The fact that Erwin Schneider was in charge of the field work and of the technical aspects of drafting the map speaks eloquently for its accuracy. The field work was carried out over an eight-year period, from 1955 to 1963. Parts of the work have already been available before: in Schneider’s map of the Everest region and in the British map of the Tibetan portion, which is incorporated into this one. However, here for the first time to this reviewer’s knowledge can one see the region in its entirety.

Those familiar with the traditional nomenclature of this area will have surprises. Namche Bazar appears as Nauche; Ama Dablam as Amai Dablang; Rongbuk Glacier as Rongphu Glacier. It would be hard to quarrel with Peter Aufschnaiter in the matter of Tibetan or Nepalese names and doubtless these represent a much more accurate rendering of the words.

The map is clear and excellently reproduced. Heights are in meters. The scale is 1:50,000. In the Nepalese section the contour interval is 40 meters and in the Tibetan part, 200 meters. Trigonometrical starting points were from the Survey of India. There is no doubt that many climbers will wish to obtain this map from Germany.

a. c.