Travel
LLOYD, Major Sir William; Captain Alexander Gerard
Narrative of a journey from Caunpoor to the Boorendo Pass in the Himalaya Mountains, via Gwalior, Agra, Delhi, and Sirhind: by Major Sir William Lloyd. And Captain Alexander Gerard's account of an attempt to penetrate by Bekhur to Garoo, and the Lake Manasarowara: with a letter from the late J.G. Gerard esq. detailing a visit to the Shatool and Boorendo Passes, for the purpose of determining the line of perpetual snow on the southern face of the Himalaya.
Madden, London 1840. First edition. 2 volumes in 1, 8vo., xv, 347; 322pp., 3 maps (2 folding), 4 engraved plates modern half calf gilt, red morocco label, marbled boards, old stamp of the Royal Institution to title, a very good copy.
One of the most important Himalayan books. Sir William Lloyd, knight, of Brynestyn, near Wrexham, a Welsh country gentleman, who had been a major in the Hon. East India Company's Bengal infantry and an Indian surveyor, brought out this book, under the editorship of his son, George Lloyd. Volume I contains an account of his journey and the letter by J.G. Gerard who died on the way to Bokhara whilst part of Alexander Burnes' expedition. Alexander Gerard carried out many arduous and important survey duties, especially in the Himalayas, where he ascended heights previously believed to be inaccessible, and penetrated into Thibet as far as the frontier picquets of Chinese would allow. To him we are indebted for our earliest notions of the geological structure and remains of the Himalayan ranges. In 1821 he performed the most important of his Himalayan journeys. Leaving Subathoo he ascended the Himalayan upper ranges, carefully noting the places inhabited by the way, determining with the aid of the barometer, checked by trigonometrical admeasurements wherever practicable, their ranges of elevation above the level of the sea, the temperatures, natural productions, and character of the tribes dotted about on ledges previously supposed to be uninhabited and uninhabitable. Gerard and his company reached the Borendo pass, 15,121 feet above the sea-level, on 15 June. Here the native guides refused to proceed further, and Gerard had to shape his course to the source of the Pabur by another route. The Charang pass, at an altitude of 17,348 feet, was ascended on 9 July, half a mile of the slope being so slippery with gravel and half-melted snow that Gerard had to crawl upwards on all fours, burying his arms deep in the snow to secure his hold. Another ascent was that of the Keeobrung pass, 18,312 feet above the sea. Yet another was that of Mount Tahigung, where part of the ascent was at an angle of forty-two, an incline declared by Humboldt to be impracticable. The height ascended was 19,411 feet, and the total computed altitude of the mountain 22,000 feet. Yakushi, L238
Price: £ 1500
US Dollar Price: $ 2980
Stock Number: 63380