1926.08.05
09.30
High above the Himalayas
In his travel diary, published in 1929, Nicholas Roerich relates a very unusual experience. The book, entitled Altai-Himalaya, records his expedition through India, Tibet, Sinkiang and Mongolia.
“On August fifth – something remarkable! We were in our camp in the Kukunor district, not far from the Humboldt chain. In the morning about half-past nine some of our caravaneers noticed a remarkably big black eagle flying above us. Seven of us began to watch this unusual bird. At the same moment another of our caravaneers remarked: ‘There is something far above the bird,’ and he shouted his astonishment. We all saw, in the direction north to south, something big and shiny reflecting sun, like a huge oval moving at great speed. Crossing our camp this thing changed in its direction from south to southwest, and we saw how it disappeared in the intense blue sky. We even had time to take our field glasses and saw quite distinctly the oval form with the shiny surface, one side of which was brilliant from the sun.”