The Mountain Kingdom: Portraits of Nepal and the Gurkhas by Niven, Bruce M - 1987

Singapore: Imago. New. 1987. First Edition. Paperback. 0911977074 . Great warehouse find, absolutely new, clean and shinny wraps. The Gurkhas are the product of a harsh environment - the mountain kingdom of Nepal. Not many trees or flowers grow here. The Himalayan mountains stand tall in this country, each one a day's march for a heavily ladden traveler. The mountains, the rivers, and the monsoon climate condition the Gurkhas' way of life, and that of the Sherpas, the strict Buddhist people who have aided many mountain-climbers in their Himalayan quests, including Sir Edmund Hillary. Yet they are a sturdy, resilient people, proud of their self-suficiency; they are also world-renowned for their tenacious fighting soldiers, dedicated and alert to hidden danger on the battlefield. Much of the stark and awe-inspiring beauty of the land and the variety of the Gurkha tribes are captured in this book. Col. Bruce Niven is no stranger to Nepal. He commanded a company, then a regiment, and then commanded the Gurkha Contigent of the Singapore Police Force. His love for both Nepal and the Gurkhas shows on every page of this elegantly written and beautifully photographed book. Color photos throughout.; 96 pages .