Kashmir, Ladakh and Tibet (Photostat)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The author on his visit to Kashmir, Ladakh, and Tibet along with the medical missionary had traveled extensively to the interiors which brought him into contact with all classes, from the Maharajah downwards, and with all the many races from the Dogra of the south to the Tibetan of Ladakh or the chilasi and Chitrali of western frontier. He was accompanied by Geoffrey. W. Millais captured the marvelous scenery of the northern Himalayas beauty without color. The author believes the book would be defective without at least a glance at the humanitarian aspect of one's life and work, which is after all, of the most intrinsic interest.

KASHMIR is a theme that has inspired many writers of prose and poetry, including Moore and Shelley. But it is concerned rather with the wild grandeur of forested mountains, secluded glens, and glowing snows than with the interests of animate nature Many sportsmen have recorded their experiences with the rifle on the rocky crags and desolate plateaux of the Himalayas; but the author's profession is to heal, not to slay, and he does not look at the stately harasing, the agile ibex, or the ponderous yak with the eye of a sportsman seeking "heads." Nor has be written much about the picturesque mountain tribesmen who throng the hospital waiting-room. But the book would be defective without at least a brief glance at the humanitarian aspect of one's life and work here, which is, after all, of the most intrinsic interest.

It does not come within the scope of this work to describe the people of Kashmir. For the past eighteen years the author's work as a medical missionary of the Church Missionary Society has lain among them, and it has brought him into contact with all classes. from H.H. the Maharajah downwards, and with all the many races from the Dogra of the south to the Thibetan of Ladak, or the Chilasi and Chitrali of the western frontier.

It is in the mission hospital that one comes into close individual relations with all the various races of these wide dominions. It is a centre to which sick and suffering come from all parts, especially those requiring surgical help.

A few figures are necessary to show the extent of the work. Over thirty thousaut patients a year are treated, of whom twelve hundred or more are received into the wards, and gratuitously ted. Between three and four thousand surgical operations are performed annually. As a hospital, we endeavour to make the work thoroughly scientific, doing all we can to secure the best results; and as a missionary institution, we endeavour to work it in a spirit of sympathy, getting into touch with the in-patients and teaching them the truths of our holy religion.