Three years in Tibet : with the original Japanese illustrations / by the Shramana Ekai Kawaguchi.

  • Ekai Kawaguchi
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Three years in Tibet : with the original Japanese illustrations / by the Shramana Ekai Kawaguchi. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/772
    I’UKFACE. Vll f)iil)lic‘atioii of my fiiig'lisli 11'aiislatioii, for I tlioiiglit that my book would not be of any use t(j tlie Euglisli-readiug ])ublic. Recently, the President of the Theosophical Society, my esteemed friend Mrs. Annie Besant, asked me to show her the translation. On reading it she advised me to ])ublish it quickly. 1 then told her that it would be useless for me to publish such a book, as there we7’e already (lovern- ment re])orts of the Idbetan ex])edition, and as Dr. Sven Iledin of Sweden woidd soon publish an excellent book of his travels in d’il)et. But she was of opinion that such books would treat of the country from a western ])oint of view, whilst my book woidd prove interesting' to the reader from the point of view of an Asiatic, intimately acquainted with the manners, the customs, and the inner life of the people. She also pointed out to me that the ■ book would jirove attractive to the general reader for its stirring incidents and adventnres, and the dangei*s 1 had had to pass through during niy travels. Thus then I lav this book before the Knglish-knowing puldic. I take this opportunity of-expressing my grateful thanks to Mrs. Besant for her continued kindness to me in looking over the translation, and for rendering me help in the publication. Were it not for her, this book would not have seen the light of day. Here also I must not fail to express my sincere thanks to my intimate friend Professor Jamshedji N. Unwalla, m.a., of the Central Hindu College, Benares; for he composed all the verses of the book from my free English ])rose translation, and looked over all the proof-sheets carefully with me with heartiest kindness. I must equally thank those peo]7le who helped me in my travels in a substantial manner, as well as those who rendered me useful assistance in m^' studies ; nay, even those who threw obstacles in niy wav, for they, after all,