A Journey to the Source of the River Oxus.
With an essay on the geography of the valley of the Oxus. By Colonel Henry Yule. London John Murray 1872
New (i.e. second) edition, edited by his son. pp.cvii, [2, half-title], 280, 32 (adverts), frontispiece, 2 folding maps. A very good copy in the original blind decorated cloth. Spine sun-faded, slight spotting to a few leaves.
Yakushi W116b
John Wood (1812-1871) was a naval officer who took great interest in exploration and geography, and achieved considerable fame for being the first European to discover and chart the source of the Oxus. With his flair for exploration and cartography Wood was chosen to lead an expedition into Central Asia in 1838. His narrative is gripping with tales of danger and excitement throughout, but is most engaging in it's impartial frankness on the condition of the people he met and the lands through which he travelled. This edition, published by Wood's son in commemoration of his father's death, is considerably expanded with Yule's essay bringing the known history and geography of the Oxus and it's surrounding region up to date. Henry Yule (1820-1889) was a prolific author and Orientalist who became a specialist in the medieval history and geography of Central Asia after his retirement in 1862 from the army.