The Golden Chersonese and the Way Thither [Paperback]

An evocative 1883 account of travels in the Malay Peninsula by Isabella Bird, the famous Victorian explorer.An evocative account, first published in 1883, of the final expedition to the East by Isabella Bird, the famous Victorian explorer. It contains twenty-three letters addressed to her sister, describing her travels and adventures in and around Malaysia, and giving fascinating accounts of many aspects of the region.An evocative account, first published in 1883, of the final expedition to the East by Isabella Bird, the famous Victorian explorer. It contains twenty-three letters addressed to her sister, describing her travels and adventures in and around Malaysia, and giving fascinating accounts of many aspects of the region.This is an evocative account, first published in 1883, of the final expedition to the East by Isabella Bird (18311904), who was one of the most famous Victorian female explorers, and the first woman to be admitted to the Royal Geographical Society. The Golden Chersonese is the ancient name for the Malay Peninsula, as named by the Greek geographer and astronomer Ptolemy. The book is a collection of twenty-three letters written by Bird to her ailing sister, Henny, in Scotland. Henny died as the book was published and Bird dedicates the book of letters to her memory. As well as giving detailed descriptions of her travels and adventures in and around Malaysia, the book also includes fascinating accounts of many aspects of the region, including the people, culture, landscapes and wildlife. It also contains a number of delightful illustrations and a thorough appendix.Introductory chapter; 1. The steamer Volga; 2. A delightful climate; 3. The S. S. Kin Kiang; 4. 'Faithful unto Death'; 5. Portuguese missionaries; 6. A Cochin China river; 7. Beauties of the Tropics; 8. St. Andrew's Cathedral; 9. The Lieutenant-Governor of Malacca; 10. Malacca mediaevalism; 11. A Mangrove swamp; 12. The tomb of a 'great prophet'; 13. The appurtenances of civilisation; 1lÓ1