A thousand miles on an elephant in the Shan States

"A Thousand Miles on an Elephant in the Shan States" by Holt S. Hallett is a firsthand account of a late 19th-century expedition through Southeast Asia, focusing on the areas now known as Burma and southwestern China. It details the journey of the author, Hallett, and his colleague Dr. Cushing, as they venture into the Shan States and surrounding lands to investigate optimal railway routes. The story starts with the preparations in Shoaygoon, including the organizing of crucial supplies and elephants, and the initial obstacles they encounter, like problematic transportation and dealing with local staff. Besides the immediate challenges of the journey, the author reflects on the region’s natural features, its diverse people, and the wider importance of their travels considered the influence of European commerce and expanding colonial territory. It's a story of adventure, discovery, and a detailed examination of cultural interactions in a rapidly changing world.