In the footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker : a Sikkim adventure

In 1847 Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911) embarked on an expedition to Sikkim in the eastern Himalaya, a region where he would discover a huge number of botanical treasures previously unknown to the West. A scientist of breath-taking ability, Hooker would go on to become one of the greatest botanists and explorers of the 19th century and is perhaps the greatest of the lauded Directors of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.In this fascinating travelogue, author Seamus O'Brien retraces Hooker's footsteps in Sikkim, bringingalive the adventure, dangers and discoveries that Hooker and his companions experienced in the mid- 19th century. Seamus describes how his drive for this expedition came from a yearning to see in the wild the plant discoveries made famous by Hooker, who described the region as 'a perfect microcosmof the Himalaya.' Following in Hooker's footsteps, the author describes how these places compare to the descriptions made by Hooker 170 years previously, and how in many ways how little Sikkim has changed little over the course of time.Hooker was a highly skilled geographer and cartographer, and in Sikkim he created the firstcomprehensive map of the kingdom, highlighting mountain passes that would be of enormousstrategic value in the decades to come. Some of these maps are reproduced in the book along withHooker's original sketches of the region and plants, as well as illustrated throughout with stunningphotographs by the author.This is a wonderful celebration of one of the greatest adventures by one of history's greatest scientists,and ideal for anyone with an interest in the flora and history of the region. In 1847 Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911) Embarked On An Expedition To Sikkim In The Eastern Hmalaya, Where He Would Discover A Huge Number Of Botanical Treasures Previously Unknown In The West. A Scientist Of Breathtaking Abiity, Hooker Became One Of The Greatest Botanists And Explorers Of The 19th Century, And Perhaps The Most Eminent Of The Directors Of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. In This Fascinating Travelogue, Author Seamus O'brien Retraces Hooker's Footsteps In Sikkim, Bringing Alive The Adventure, Dangers And Discoveries That He And His Companions Experienced In The Mid-19th Century. Seamus Tells How Hooker's Drive To Embark Upon This Expedition Came From A Yearning To Observe Plants In Their Natural Habitats. He Described The Region As 'a Perfect Microcosm Of The Himalaya.' Following Hooker's Trail, The Author Describes How These Places Compare To The Descriptions Made By Hooker 170 Years Previously, Showing In Many Ways How Little Sikkim Has Changed Over The Course Of Time. Hooker Was Also A Highly-skilled Goegrapher And Cartographer; In Sikkim He Created The First Comprehensive Map Of The Kingdom, Highlighting Mountain Passes That Would Become Strategically Important In The Decades That Followed. Some Of Hooker's Maps Are Reproduced In The Book Along With His Original Sketches Of Landscapes And Plants. These Illustrations Are Supplemented Throughout With Stunning Photographs By The Author. This Is A Wonderful Celebration Of One Of The Most Daring Adventures By One Of History's Greatest Scientists, And Ideal For Anyone Fascinated By The Flora And History Of The Region. 1. A Passage To India -- 2. A Sojourn At The Hill Station -- 3. Ireland And India : The Colonial Era -- 4. A Pilgrimage To Darjeeling -- 5. A Pioneering Adventure In East Nepal -- 6. Meeting The Rajah -- 7. Our Buddhist Pilgrimage : The 'via Sacra' -- 8. To The Snows Of Kangchenjunga -- 9. Into The Sikkim Himalaya -- 10. Exploring The Lachen Valley -- 11. Confusion In The Zemu Valley -- 12. The Lachen Valley -- 13. The Lachung Valley -- 14. Our Journey Through The Lachung Valley -- 15. A Hostage Crisis At Tumlong -- 16. To Gangtok And Tumlong -- Epilogue -- Appendix 1. Hooker's Rhododendrons -- Appendix 2. Joseph Hooker's Sikkim And Nepal Plants -- Appendix 3. Place Names -- Appendix 4. Select Glossary -- Appendix 5. Notes -- Appendix 6. Select Bibliography. Seamus O'brien. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 305-306) And Indexes. Contents Patrons Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Maps Chapter 1. A passage to India Chapter 2. A sojourn at the hill station Chapter 3. Ireland and India – the colonial era Chapter 4. A pilgrimage to Darjeeling Chapter 5. A pioneering adventure in east Nepal Chapter 6. Meeting the Rajah Chapter 7. Our Buddhist pilgrimage – the ‘Via Sacra’ Chapter 8. To the snows of Kangchenjunga Chapter 9. Into the Sikkim Himalaya Chapter 10. Exploring the Lachen valley Chapter 11. Confusion in the Zemu valley Chapter 12. The Lachen valley Chapter 13. The Lachung valley Chapter 14. Our journeys through the Lachung valley Chapter 15. A hostage crisis at Tumlong Chapter 16. To Gangtok and Tumlong Epilogue Appendix 1. Hooker’s Rhododendrons Appendix 2. Joseph Hooker’s Sikkim and Nepal plants Appendix 3. Place names Appendix 4. Select glossary Appendix 5. Notes Appendix 6. Select bibliography Index to people and places Index to plant and animal names In these times of social media saturation, many are the travelers who set off to track down an Instagrammable meal at a hole-in-the-wall featured by Anthony Bourdain or David Chang. Seamus OBrien, however, journeyed to an unfamiliar locale with an analog guide from another the notes made by Joseph Dalton Hooker as he chronicled his journeys in the Sikkim Himilaya in the northeastern most corner of India. Eager to see the plants described in Hookers account, OBrien set off nearly one hundred and fifty years later to trace Hookers footsteps through the natural wonders of the Himalayas, recounting the adventure in this new book. With Hooker as his guide, OBrien compares mid-nineteenth-century notes to twenty-first-century realityand he discovers that remarkably little has changed. Accompanied by Hookers maps and illustrations, the book is a testament to the regions splendor and to Hookers skill as a botanist and cartographer.