Himalayan Journals

by Joseph Dalton Hooker

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfectionssuch as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact,or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections,have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed worksworldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.++++The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition++++Himalayan Journals, Or Notes Of A Naturalist In Bengal, The Sikkim And Nepal Himalayas, The Khasia Mountains,...; Himalayan Journals, Or Notes Of A Naturalist In Bengal, The Sikkim And Nepal Himalayas, The Khasia Mountains; Joseph Dalton HookerJoseph Dalton HookerJ. Murray, 1854History; Asia; India & South Asia; History / Asia / India & South Asia; Science / Life Sciences / Botany; Travel / Asia / India

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1854

About the author

Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, 1817-1911

Reviews

[Jim Coogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One week before I finished section hiking the Appalachian Trail (a 9+ year journey that included climbing some of the highest peaks on the East Coast of the US), I began reading “The Himalayan Journals”, written in the early 1850s by Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker. Since first encountering this book several years ago (it was mentioned in another travel narrative I was reading), I’d assumed it was going to be a series of daily anecdotes about Nepal and Tibet. Imagine my surprise, however, when I discovered that it was actually a report about scientific expedition through several interesting parts of India, most of which I’d never considered or known anything about. Hooker mingled cultural descriptions, measurements of natural phenomena and varied observations of the beautiful scenery in lands located in the northeast corner of the Subcontinent. Overall, he created a very engaging narrative that was full of harrowing adventures in the alpine zones, complex mathematical exercises to determine terrain elevations and fretful engagements with other humans from around the region. Stories about the local peoples, the unique flora and fauna, political tensions, friendships and professional courtesies abounded and I felt like I was traveling with the writer. Before long, I began to actually imagine myself traveling to the places being described and quickly ordered some maps and guide books for India. Many people have asked me “what’s next?” after finishing the AT and now I think I know: I would like to take an extended vacation to West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Nepal and Bhutan within the next few years. “The Himalayan Journals” is a great read for anyone considering an adventure in the mountains of Asia! 😊

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We took this book with us when we visited northern India in the hope of retracing some of Great Grandpa’s footsteps. We were successful in finding some of the exact views that he had sketched. Some of his descriptions of interactions with local Lepcha people don’t really stand the test of time but are a fascinating insight into the Victorian colonialist’s mind and experiences abroad. Also, descriptions of the hardships suffered in the name of exploration and scientific research are enlightening - camping under a tarpaulin in overnight temperatures of -17! His race for the Chinese border and descriptions of his self inflicted incarceration to support his friend can’t help but make you wonder if there was a second, government funded, agenda here.
JDH’s need to record and catalogue everything (a genetic trait that has clearly passed down the generations 🤣) is our gain as his detailed descriptions of the flora and fauna (and geology and meteorology…) of India provide a snapshot of a world fast slipping from our grasp. But it proved a worthy travel guide for holiday in Sikkim. So much remains unchanged.