Diary of a Pedestrian In Cashmere and Thibet | Page 4

interest or amusement. Its object is simply
to bring before the reader's imagination those scenes and incidents of
travel which have already been a source of enjoyment to the writer, and
to impart, perhaps, by their description, some portion of the
gratification which has been derived from their reality. With this view,
the original Diary has undergone as little alteration of form or matter as
possible, and is laid before the reader as it was sketched and written
during the leisure moments of a wandering life, hoping that faithfulness
of detail may atone in it for faults and failings in a literary and artistic
point of view.
Although the journey it describes was written without the advantages of
a previous acquaintance with the writings of those who had already
gone over the same ground, subsequent research has added much to the
interest of the narrative, and information thus obtained has been added
either in the form of Notes or Appendix. Under the latter head,
acknowledgment is principally due to an able and interesting essay on
the architecture of Cashmere, by Capt. Cunningham, and also to a
paper by M. Klaproth, both of whom appear to have treated more fully
than any other writers the subjects to which they refer.
As differences will be found to occur in the names of places, &c.
between the parts thus added and the remainder of the book, it may be
well to explain that in the former only are they spelt according to the
usually received method of rendering words of Eastern origin in the
Roman character. By this system the letters A, E, I, O, and U, are given
the sounds of the corresponding Italian vowels; I and U are pronounced

as in "hit" and "put;" and the letter A is made to represent the short U in
the word "cut." In this way it is that Cashmere, correctly pronounced
Cushmere, comes to be written Kashmir, and Mutun, pronounced as the
English word "mutton,"[1] is written Matan, both of which, to the
initiated, represent the true sound of the words. Those who have
adopted the system, however, have not always employed it throughout,
nor given with it the key by which it alone becomes intelligible; and the
result has been that in many ways, but principally from the un-English
use made of the letter A, it has tended quite as much to mislead and
confuse, as to direct.
In the narrative, therefore, wherever custom has not already established
a particular form of spelling, the explanation of the sound has been
attempted in the manner which seemed least liable to misconception,
and, except as regards the letters A and U no particular system has been
followed. These have been invariably given the sounds they possess in
the words "path" and "cut" respectively, a circumflex being placed over
the latter to denote the short U in the word "put."
Such names, therefore, as Cushmere, Tibbut, Muhummud, Hijra, &c.
have been left as custom has ruled them, and will appear in their more
well-known costume of Cashmere, Thibet, Mahomet, and Hegira.
The concluding sketch was originally intended to accompany a series
of brightly-coloured Cashmerian designs illustrative of the life of
"Krishna;" and the reproduction of these, in their integrity, not having
been found feasible, the sketch itself may appear DE TROP.
It has, however, been retained on the possibility of the translations
which occur in it being of interest to those who may not be acquainted
with the style of Eastern religious literature; while the outline it
presents of some of the religions of the East, bare and simple as it is,
may be acceptable to such as are not inclined to search out and study
for themselves the necessarily voluminous and complicated details.
London.

Contents.

Illustrations.
Ladak View in Sirinugger Solomon's Throne Hurree Purbut Martund
Pandreton Lamieroo Road to Egnemo Rajah's Palace, Ladak Monastery

of Hemis Seventh Bridge, Sirinugger Hindoo Temple in the Himalayas
Gunesh Birth of Krishna Temple Decoration, Himalayas Ancient Jain
Temple

Chubootra, or Resting-place in the Himalayas The Head of Affairs An
Unpropitious Moment Kismut Crossing the Sutlej A Halting-place in
Cashmere Latticed Window, Sirinugger Sacred Tank, Islamabad
Painting VERSUS Poetry Love-lighted Eyes Vernagh Cashmerian
Temple Sculpture Patrun Roadside Monument, Thibet Road to
Moulwee Rock Sculpture Thibetian Monument Natives and Lama
Thibetian Religious Literature Inscribed Stones Inscribed Stones
Monument at Hemis Painted Stone Buddha Snow Bridge Kangree
Ancient Hindoo Temple Fukeer of Solomon's Throne

Erratum.
Page 116, line 5, FOR A.D. 1612, READ A.D. 1619.

"Who has not heard of the Vale of Cashmere, With its roses the
brightest that earth ever gave, Its temples, and grottoes, and fountains
as clear As the love-lighted eyes that hang over their wave?"

Introduction.
More than a year and a half