The world's highest peak was discovered in 1852, when routine calculations of the Survey of India revealed a remote mountain on Nepal's northerm frontier to be over 29m000 feet. Peak XV, as it was labeled on the survey's map, was so isolated no local name could be found. Everest was nothing special to Sherpas, who l ived surrounded by dozens of great peaks. (The Nepali name Sagarmatha ":Brow of the Oceans", was appended few decades ago.) Tibetans living on the northern side had a number of names for the mountain, though efforts to translate them seem to have run aground. The list includes "The cooking pan of the queen of th efive sister goddesses" and "Wind Goddess" Best known as Jhomolunga, poetically rendered as "Mother Goddess of the Earth, "though "Valley Goddess" would be more accurate. Survey officials took the most prudent course and named hte mountain after their recently retired boss, Sir George Everest.

(From nepal handbook, by Kerry Moran).