Tribes of the Hindoo Koosh

TRIBES of the HINDOO KOOSH.

BIDDULPH, MAJOR JOHN, BSC, Political Officer at Gilgit. CALCUTTA, First Edition, PRESENTATION copy inscribed: "J. Hope from the Author" on title. 1880, vi, 164pp, cixix (appendices), 8vo., Original dark green cloth with lettering and pictorial in gilt. Large colored folding map in pocket in front ( 27 ½" x 19"), lithographed frontispiece, 5 plates, 3 folding genealogical tables, illustrations in text. Some light spotting at the beginning and end, covers have slight shelf wear. Otherwise text and plates are clean and fresh with no markings other than the author's inscription. The folding map is clean with no tears.

"A rare account of the author's travels in numerous countries around the Hindu Kush mountains, including Kashgar, Sirikol, Wakhan, Gilgit, Hunza, Yassin and Chitral. The latter part of the work consists of ten linguistic appendices, each dealing with a different dialect." The three folding genealogical tables contain extensive details of the various families in Chitral (Katoore), Ponyal ( Yassin, Boorooshe) and Gilgit (Trannane), Nager ( Moghlote), Hunza (Ayeshe) families. The appendices are extensive (169 pp) in source material and cover grammar and vocabulary of the region. An attractive VG copy of a rare account compiled by a Political Officer in residence. Yakushi B363. Provenance Sotheby's

London sale L00213, 2000, lot 938 (this copy).