Author – “I have endeavored in the following pages to give, to the best of my ability, and according to my means of information, a full and accurate account of Ladak. I have twice visited the country, in 1846 and again in 1847, and on each occasion by a different route; I have read every work that I could procure (and I have neither spared pains nor expense) regarding Ladak or Tibet. I therefore am willing to think that the various information which I have collected may not prove altogether uninteresting, even to the general reader. For the antiquary and scientific enquirer, there are several subjects which I would fain hope may merit attention.” – From the Preface