Himalayan Journals, vol 1 | Page 3

and a princely liberality, Mr. Hodgson has unveiled the
mysteries of the Boodhist religion, chronicled the affinities, languages,
customs, and faiths of the Himalayan tribes; and completed a natural
history of the animals and birds of these regions. His collections of
specimens are immense, and are illustrated by drawings and
descriptions taken from life, with remarks on the anatomy,* [In this
department he availed himself of the services of Dr. Campbell, who
was also attached to the Residency at Nepal, as surgeon and assistant
political agent.] habits, and localities of the animals themselves.

Twenty volumes of the Journals, and the Museum of the Asiatic
Society of Bengal, teem with the proofs of his indefatigable zeal; and
throughout the cabinets of the bird and quadruped departments of our
national museum, Mr. Hodgson's name stands pre-eminent. A seat in
the Institute of France, and the cross of the Legion of Honour, prove the
estimation in which his Boodhist studies are held on the continent of
Europe. To be welcomed to the Himalaya by such a person, and to be
allowed the most unreserved intercourse, and the advantage of all his
information and library, exercised a material influence on the progress I
made in my studies, and on my travels. When I add that many of the
subjects treated of in these volumes were discussed between us, it will
be evident that it is impossible for me to divest much of the information
thus insensibly obtained, of the appearance of being the fruits of my
own research.
Dr. Campbell, the Superintendent of Dorjiling, is likewise the
Governor-General's agent, or medium of communication between the
British Government and the Sikkim Rajah; and as such, invested with
many discretionary powers. In the course of this narrative, I shall give a
sketch of the rise, progress, and prospects of the Sanatarium, or
Health-station of Dorjiling, and of the anomalous position held by the
Sikkim Rajah. The latter circumstance led indirectly to the detention of
Dr. Campbell (who joined me in one of my journeys) and myself, by a
faction of the Sikkim court, for the purpose of obtaining from the
Indian Government a more favourable treaty than that then existing.
This mode of enforcing a request by douce violence and detention, is
common with the turbulent tribes east of Nepal, but was in this instance
aggravated by violence towards my fellow-prisoner, through the ill will
of the persons who executed the orders of their superiors, and who had
been punished by Dr. Campbell for crimes committed against both the
British and Nepalese governments. The circumstances of this outrage
were misunderstood at the time; its instigators were supposed to be
Chinese; its perpetrators Tibetans; and we the offenders were assumed
to have thrust ourselves into the country, without authority from our
own government, and contrary to the will of the Sikkim Rajah; who
was imagined to be a tributary of China, and protected by that nation,
and to be under no obligation to the East Indian government.
With regard to the obligations I owe to Dr. Campbell, I confine myself

to saying that his whole aim was to promote my comfort, and to secure
my success, in all possible ways. Every object I had in view was as
sedulously cared for by him as by myself: I am indebted to his
influence with Jung Bahadoor* [It was in Nepal that Dr. Campbell
gained the friendship of Jung Bahadoor, the most remarkable proof of
which is the acceding to his request, and granting me leave to visit the
eastern parts of his dominions; no European that I am aware of, having
been allowed, either before or since, to travel anywhere except to and
from the plains of India and valley of Katmandu, in which the capital
city and British residency are situated.] for the permission to traverse
his dominions, and to visit the Tibetan passes of Nepal. His prudence
and patience in negotiating with the Sikkim court, enabled me to pursue
my investigations in that country. My journal is largely indebted to his
varied and extensive knowledge of the people and productions of these
regions.
In all numerical calculations connected with my observations, I
received most essential aid from John Muller, Esq., Accountant of the
Calcutta Mint, and from his brother, Charles Muller, Esq., of Patna,
both ardent amateurs in scientific pursuits, and who employed
themselves in making meteorological observations at Dorjiling, where
they were recruiting constitutions impaired by the performance of
arduous duties in the climate of the plains. I cannot sufficiently thank
these gentlemen for the handsome manner in which they volunteered
me their assistance in these laborious operations. Mr. J. Muller resided
at Dorjiling during eighteen months of my stay in Sikkim, over the
whole of which period his generous zeal in my service never relaxed;
he