Himalayan Journals | Page 5

overcame, and
the sacrifices he made, in attaining that position, are known to few. He

entered the wilds of Nepal when very young, and in indifferent health;
and finding time to spare, cast about for the best method of employing
it: he had no one to recommend or direct a pursuit, no example to
follow, no rival to equal or surpass; he had never been acquainted with
a scientific man, and knew nothing of science except the name. The
natural history of men and animals, in its most comprehensive sense,
attracted his attention; he sent to Europe for books, and commenced the
study of ethnology and zoology. His labours have now extended over
upwards of twenty-five years' residence in the Himalaya. During this
period he has seldom had a staff of less than from ten to twenty persons
(often many more), of various tongues and races, employed as
translators and collectors, artists, shooters, and stuffers. By unceasing
exertions 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 _i_douce violencei 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