India, 2000 [1841], new edition. Two volumes in one, 967 pp. Hardcover. No dust jacket issued. Fine.
The successful attempts in history to penetrate into Central Asia originated with William Moorcroft. Moorcroft undertook his first journey into Tibet from 1812-15, with H Y Hearsy. He was detained at Dava Dzong near the west of Sutlej River, and was helped to escape to India by the Bhotia Tribe. In the years 1819-25 he travelled and explored widely from his base in Leh; the greater part of Ladakh, the Karakoram Pass, the head-waters of the Yarkund River, the Western Himalaya, the Karakoram and the NW Frontier. He died in North Afghanistan at the end of August 1825.
William Moorcroft was a veterinary surgeon to the Bengal army. He was particularly interested in improving the stud by importing Turcoman horses and to this end he wished to investigate the possibilities of trade across the Himalayas. In 1811 he was the first westerner to cross the Himalayas. In the subsequent expedition reported here he ventured to Ladakh where he spent several months. Having failed to get permission to enter Chinese Tartary he travelled to Kashmir where he made a thorough investigation of the shawl industry and then subsequently Kabul and Bokhara where he met with as much kindness from the king as could be expected from a selfish narrow minded bigot. He was accompanied by George Trebeck. Both Moorcroft and Trebeck died on the return journey from Bokhara but their papers reached India and were subsequently edited and published by Wilson in 1841
Contents Part I Journey to Ladakh Preface. 1. Detention at Joshimath journey to Srinagar. 2. Resources of the hills. 3. Defile of Alexander. 4. Shahdehra. 5. March from Sujanpur. 6. Valley of the Byas. II. Residence in Ladakh 1. Meeting with Abdul Latif. 2. Description of Ladakh. 3. Divisions. 4. Notices of adjacent countries. 5. Proceedings at Le. 6. Political relations of Ladakh with Ranjit Singh. 7. Pass of Tsaka La. 8. Mr. Moorcroft's journey to Dras. 9. Excursion of Mr. Trebeck to Piti. III. Journey to Kashmir and Peshawar 1. Relinquishment of the route by Yarkand. 2. Description of Kashmir. 3. Arts and manufactures of Kashmir. 4. Excursion to the Deodar forest. 5. Visit to the sources of the Behut. 6. Countries in the neighbourhood of Ladakh and Kashmir. 7. First departure from Kashmir. IV. Journey to Kabul and Bokhara 1. Departure from Peshawar. 2. Departure from Kabul. 3. Return of messengers to Kunduz. 4. Favourable testimonials. 5. Notice of Kasim Jan.
