Life and works of Alexander Csoma de Körös : $b A biography compiled chiefly from hitherto unpublished dataDuka, Tivadar
History
Life and works of Alexander Csoma de Körös : $b A biography compiled chiefly from hitherto unpublished data
Duka, Tivadar
Kőrösi Csoma, Sándor, 1784-1842
18. “I think I have given, as it was required from me, an
intelligible account of my history and past proceedings. For the
future, as also the length to which I propose to carry my travels
and researches, I beg leave to add, the civilised and learned world
is indebted to Great Britain in many respects for useful
discoveries, inventions, and improvements in arts and sciences.
There is yet in Asia a vast terra incognita for oriental
literature. If the Asiatic Society in Calcutta would engage for the
illuminating the map of this terra incognita, as in the last four
years of my travelling in Asia I depended for my necessary
subsistence entirely upon British generosity, I shall be happy if I
can serve that honourable Society with the first sketches of my
researches. If this should not meet with the approbation of
Government, I beg to be allowed to return to Mr. Moorcroft, to
whose liberality and kindness I am at present entirely indebted for
my subsistence; or, if it pleases the Governor-General of India,
that I shall be permitted to remain under your protection until my
patron’s return from his present tour to Bokhara.
19. “After my arrival at this place, notwithstanding the kind
reception and civil treatment with which I was honoured, I passed
my time, although in much doubt as to a favourable answer from
Government to your report, yet with great tranquillity, till 23d
inst., when, on your communication of the Government’s resolution
on the report of my arrival, I was deeply affected, and not little
troubled in mind, fearing that I was likely to be frustrated in my
expectations. However, recollecting myself, I have arranged my
ideas as well as my knowledge of the English language will admit,
and I humbly beseech you to receive these sincere accounts of my
circumstances, and if you will be pleased to forward them for the
better information’s sake and satisfaction of His Excellency the
Governor-General in Council, and with my humblest acknowledgments
for his lordship’s regard respecting the manner in which I should
be treated.
20. “I beg leave for my tardiness in writing, for the rudeness of
my characters, and for my unpolite expressions, if sometimes I used
not the proper terms.—I have, &c.
(Sd.) “Alexander Csoma de Körös.
“Subathoo, 28th January 1825.”
From the above we gather that our traveller started from Transylvania
on November 1, 1819, and at the end of that month crossed the frontier
into Wallachia, the present Roumania, and reached Bucharest.
1820, on the 1st of January, he left that capital, and on the
3d of January, crossed the Danube into Macedonia.
11th January, he arrived at Sophia.
16th January, he reached Philippopolis, and thence proceeded to Enos.
February 7th. Left Enos in a Greek ship, and sailing by Chios and
Rhodes, on
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