Record

Ref NoJDH/1/10/112-114
Alt Ref NoJHC44
TitleLetter from Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton to Darwin, Sir Charles Robert from Darjeeling, India
DescriptionApologises for being a poor correspondent to [Charles] Darwin [CD] & [Charles] Lyell. At Darjeeling, JDH is staying with [Brian Houghton] Hodgson [BHH]; a Himalayan naturalist. JDH collects beetles. Discusses [Hugh] Falconer's health, work, East India Company pension & bad behaviour; incl. offending the Asiatic Society President, Colvile. For the rainy season JDH has sent out collectors for live plants & is drying them himself. JDH has not been above 10,000 ft but must see that flora to complete a transverse section of the range & its botanical regions. Lord Dalhousie is seeking permission from the Rajah for JDH to go to Sikkim. Permission granted to travel through Nepaul [Nepal] to Tibet passes. In Dec will explore the Terai recording the rocks, plants, climate & zoology. Has formed good idea of the main plants that define the 'central region'. Discusses geology of the region incl terraces & structure of the mountains. Explains composition of the soil, concentrations of organic material & coal deposits- Mueller does the chemical analysis. Discusses elevations of glaciers. Speculates on geology of Kinchin [Kanchenjunga] & the sudden transition from the sub Himal to higher peaks. The Himalayas need to be studied fully to understand their makeup, so far only the North West corner is known, nobody has explored east of the Kemaon [Kumaon]. JDH is anxious to be the first in this terra nova. BHH sends CD some pamphlets to share with Waterhouse. Relates BHH's answers to CD's questions re: climate for seedlings in India, cultivation of European vegetables, tea plants at Cathmandu [Kathmandu], introduction of the Junma goat, interbreeding of Axis medius & Hemitragus quadri-mammis & Yak or Bison with Buffalo to produce zobos, breeding of wild & domesticated fowl & dogs , bulls covering deer like Rusa hippelaphus, the habits of Tussa silk moth. Duel, death & children of Captain C.. Sends wishes to Darwin family, Wsdgewoods, Westwood, Forbes, Lyells, Horners, Owen & Bell.
Date13 Oct 1848
FormatOriginal MS
URLwww.kew.org/josephhooker
CreatorHooker, Sir Joseph Dalton
Collection TitleSir Joseph Hooker Papers
LevelItem
Extent8 page letter over 3 folios
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