This book deals chiefly with the author's adventures during a journey taken in Tibet in 1897, when that country, owing to religious fanaticism, was closed to strangers. For the scientific results of the expedition, for the detailed description of the customs, manners, etc., of the people, the larger work, entitled In the Forbidden Land (Harper & Brothers, publishers), by the same author, should be consulted.
During that journey of exploration the author made many important geographical discoveries, among which may be mentioned:
(a) The discovery of the two principal sources of the Great Brahmaputra River, one of the four largest rivers in the world.
(b) The ascertaining that a high range of mountains existed north of the Himahlyas, but with no such great elevations as the highest of the Himahlyan range.
(c) The settlement of the geographical controversy regarding the supposed connection between the Sacred (Mansarowar) and the Devil's (Rakastal) lakes.
(d) The discovery of the real sources of the Sutlej River.
In writing geographical names the author has given the names their true sounds as locally pronounced, and has made no exception even for the poetic word "Himahlya" (the abode of snow), which in English is usually misspelt and distorted into the meaningless Himalaya.
All bearings of the compass given in this book are magnetic. Temperature observations were registered with Fahrenheit thermometers.
A. H. S. L.