Himalayan Journals — Complete Or, Notes of a Naturalist in Bengal, the Sikkim and Nepal Himalayas, the Khasia Mountains, etc.

"Himalayan Journals — Complete" by Joseph Dalton Hooker is a 19th-century travelogue and scientific expedition account. It chronicles Hooker’s in-depth explorations of the Himalayas, especially Sikkim and Nepal, with a heavy emphasis on the natural world. Acting as a personal adventure narrative fused with a scientific study, the book offers unique insights into the plant life, animal life, and societies of the regions he traversed in the wild. The book begins with Hooker's arrival in India and his first journeys, starting with the Sunderbunds and then heading towards the Himalayan base. He recounts the landscapes, his travel hardships, and his time in different camps. Hooker documents his observations of plants and wildlife, local customs, and geological features. His deep interest in botany shows through as he carefully documents plant types, traits, and uses, laying the groundwork for the comprehensive natural history revealed subsequently in the book.