国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

ling, arranging and analysing the results brought about by other travellers in the
same regions. I was giving too much of my own and too little of what was gained
by my predecessors. One got bewildered in the details, losing all general views,
and one became unable, without serious, preparatory studies, to assign, to my scien-
tific journey, its right place in the chain of human progress. In the present instance
I have therefore, in dealing with the matter, followed quite an opposite system. To
the historic point has been given the preponderance in »Southern Tibet«. As
far as it has been possible to command the whole geographical literature in this
branch, I have, within its precincts, sought out every treatise, ancient or modern,
contributing to the knowledge of the country that had become the object of my
investigation. From the last contemporary travels of exploration I have passed on
to my own journey, thereby enabling the reader to decide by himself in what mea-
sure the latter has brought about new real results. My own journey has been
described as succinctly as possible, with indication only of its chief characteristic
traits. Certain parts have not even been mentioned at all. Thus, for instance, I
have altogether left out the voyage round Kailas for the reason that I had given a
quite sufficient account of its features already in my popular work »Transhimalaya«.
The voyages down the upper Indus from Gartok to Drugub, and down the upper
Satlej through Himalaya, were affecting regions so well known, that I needed not
now dwell upon them. All unessential details have been omitted, and only the results
set forth. In this way, a clear general view may be taken of the matter, allowing
it to be more easily compared with the harvest reaped by other explorers.
In consequence of the modified plan, my new work has become considerably
reduced as to its dimensions, when compared with »Scientific Results«. It is true
that also this time I am appearing with four volumes of geographical text, but both
the size and the number of pages are less than previously. The fact that it has
not been possible to proceed with the publishing earlier than eight or nine years
after my return home, is of no account. The work has in no manner grown an-
tiquated by the lapse of time.¹ As far as I know, no one has visited the territory
in question later than myself, and no new light has been thrown over Transhima-
laya since my caravan last time wandered over its mountains.
The geographical text is divided into four volumes. The first is relating to
the lake Manasarovar and the Sources of the great Indian Rivers from the remotest
antiquity to the end of the eighteenth century. The second forms its continuation