In the forbidden land: an account of a journey into Tibet, capture by the Tibetan lamas and soldiers, imprisonment, torture and ultimate release

About this book

Arnold Henry Savage Landor’s In the Forbidden Land is a travel memoir that records his arduous trek from the foothills of the Himalayas into Tibet. The narrative opens with Landor’s practical concerns about hiring reliable servants for the expedition, detailing the endless stream of applicants bearing official “certificates” of good conduct. After a humorous episode with a clumsy native named Chanden Sing, who insists on serving despite his lack of qualifications, Landor finally secures a steadfast companion and sets out from Naini Tal. The opening pages blend vivid descriptions of the rugged terrain, steep ascents, forest fires, and remote shrines, with lively anecdotes about the people he encounters, establishing a tone of both logistical detail and personal observation.

Written in the late‑Victorian period, the prose is marked by a formal, slightly ornate style that reflects Landor’s background as a British explorer and writer. His voice is conversational yet meticulous, peppered with Hindi phrases and footnotes that convey both his curiosity and his colonial perspective. Readers who enjoy richly detailed 19th‑century travel literature, with its blend of geographic description, cultural encounters, and the occasional comic mishap, will find this account a compelling window into a seldom‑told journey toward the forbidden lands of Tibet.

Opening lines

Henry Savage Landor. My Faithful Companion Gourkhas being unobtainable, the question weighed heavily on my mind of obtaining plucky, honest, wiry, healthy servants, of whatever caste they might be, who would be ready for the sake of a good salary and a handsome reward to brave the many discomforts, hardships, and perils my expedition was likely to involve. Both at Naini Tal and here scores of servants and Shikaris (sporting attendants) offered themselves. They one and all produced "certificates" of good conduct, irreproachable honesty, good-nature and willingness to work, and praises unbounded of all possible virtues that a servant could possess. …

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