Hunting in the Himalaya - R.H.W Dunlop

In the hunting grounds of the Himalayas, in 1856, R.H.W Dunlop cultivated a repertoire of wilderness, survival and combat skills that would see him distinguish himself in military service in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, endearing his name to his countrymen the world over. First published in 1860, Dunlop’s Hunting in the Himalaya, with notices of customs and countries from the Elephant Haunts of the Dehra Doon, to the Bunchowr Tracks in Eternal Snow is a fascinating testimony on 19th century travel, sport and leisure in Asia, written and published with the aim that “the almost endless assortment of game in the Himalaya, should not exist in vain.” In this unique account of Asiatic travel during the time of the British Empire, Dunlop writes of the vast Himalaya, the Punjaub, and Ceylon with breathtaking passion, covering roughly one hundred miles of territory across the enormous ascents, descents and circuits of the valley of the Dehra Doon, to the ‘eternal snows’of Tibet. Richly detailed travel guides are provided throughout, so that one might “run out”to Upper India with the utmost convenience; as well as instructions on the tracking, downing and display of big game such as wild Asian elephants and tigers, and intriguing social observations on the locals encountered along the way. Period illustrations and anatomical diagrams provided by J. Wolf is a special feature of the book.