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In 1914, the British plant-collector and explorer, Kingdon-Ward, undertook an expedition of some eight month's duration along Burma's eastern frontier and across the headwaters of the Irrawaddy River. Kingdon-Ward's travel was mostly on foot, through some of the most rugged and impenetrable terrain on earth; his legendary courage and endurance enabled him to prevail, despite significant
impact on his health.
Kingdon-Ward's keen powers of observation result in an account rich in the details of this previously unknown territory, its flora, fauna and the anthropology of its tribal inhabitants. While primarily a scientific expedition, Kingdon-Ward's descriptions are, at times, lyrical as he described the majestic landscape through which he travelled.
First published in 1921 and previously long out of print, this work has been one of Kingdon-Ward's scarcest and most sought-after titles.
About the author
Frank Kingdon Ward (1885-1958), OBE, the son of a leading British research botanist and professor, graduated with honours from Cambridge in Natural Sciences. In 1911, he was engaged by a British horticultural firm to collect specimens in Yunnan, an assignment which began for Ward a lifelong career as a professional explorer and plant collector.
In all Ward made a total of twenty two expeditions, spanning a period of some forty five years, in western China, northern Burma, Assam and south-eastern Tibet; much of this travel involved extreme hardship, and was undertaken at great risk to his health and personal safety.
