| RefNo | HSF/2/1/38 |
| Previous numbers | 32.8.22 and 32.8.22A |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from J [John] Herschel, Lahore, to 'Dearest Mother' [Margaret Brodie Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 17 December 1859 |
| Description | He is sorry to say he is still at Lahore since circumstances have prevented him from being in the field. He invites his mother to follow his journey on a map.He spent three or four days in a tent, camped in Colonel [Andrew Scott] Waugh's compound at Deyra. He made acquaintance with members of the Corps and of the [Great Trigonometrical] Survey, including Captain [Thomas George] Montgomerie, just returned from Cashmere [Kashmir] with maps, plans and drawings, leading John to almost think he had been there. Montgomerie had been a long way beyond the main range, on Chinese land. They have come across an as-yet unnamed peak there, 'higher than the highest the so-called Mt. Everest'. John states that Everest has no local name. The new peak [K2] is 29,600 feet he believes, giving its position. He left Deyra by elephant on 22 November and walked through the Mohan Pass before sleeping in his dhooli. He lists halting places and notes the cold. From Unballa [Ambala] he travelled by horse dak, on to Lahore via Ferozepur [Firozpur] to see Blair, from his corps. He found Chapman at Lahore and is staying in his house. He had intended to travel on by river once his baggage had arrived by bullock cart. The Ravee [Ravi] river is only navigable in rainy season, he learned and so he had to send his traps by cart to Moultan, which would take twelve or fourteen days. He remained in Lahore when his old enemy, gout took hold. He outlines arangements for mailing; Willy [Willam James Herschel] considers himself too busy to write. |
| Extent | 8p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7955 | Herschel; John (1837 - 1921) | 1837 - 1921 |