Four Years In Tibet

Originally published in 1906, Four Years In Tibet follows the travels of Ahmad Shah through Tibet and Ladakh. A Christian missionary, Shah investigates claims made in the book "The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ" by Nikolai Notovich, which made claims that there is a lost gospel of Jesus' life in India and Tibet. Aside from his investigation into Notovich's claims, Shah makes observations of the Tibetan culture of the time. Written more than a century ago, Shah provides an interesting look at life in Tibet, including its inhabitants, religion, burial customs, and marriage among other topics. Due to its age, the language used is occasionally dated. Excerpt from first chapter: "It was on the 20th of March 1894, a friend with whom I was staying at Bandar received a telegram from Ajmer to say that Mr. Andrews of America and Pandita Rama Bai wanted to see him at Agra the next day. It was already nine o'clock at night and there were only two hours before the train was to start. I determined to accompany my friend. We hastily packed for the journey, started at once and reached Jhansi the next morning where we changed for Agra. Unfortunately it was the season for some great Kind pilgrimage and the trains were crammed from roof to-floor with passengers who were hastening on. We were to travel second class, but on that day there were no second class carriages provided, so we entered a first which was almost empty-there being in it only one gentleman who was engaged in perusing the columns of the great Indian daily the "Pioneer." An interesting story of a European cremation was going the round of the papers at that time. A civilian of note in Meerut had willed to-be cremated instead of being, buried, and the ceremony, which had been performed, created a great sensation. A cremation is a very common thing in India. Every Hindu is cremated'. But for a European to be cremated on Indian soil is a rare event. Of course in France or in England no one would be startled by such a method of disposing of the dead; in those countries in fact we read of Christian, cremation as a Christian-rite. Both, of us were interested in the story and the Parsee gentleman having offered the paper to us, I read it through and then cast a glance over the advertisement column. My eye was attracted by the words: " WANTED, a medical man of experience." I was out of employment, but as my wife had just recovered from a long illness and was still at Banda for a change, I was not just then prepared to accept a post. But some how or other I thought it worthwhile just to try for it. I therefore, drafted an application while the train was in motion. I posted it at once, to see what would come of it. I thought there would be sufficient time to consider the matter before I received the reply."