Page:A wandering student in the Far East vol.1 - Zetland.djvu/360

quite painful to feel I was going away on a great journey, and yet could not take a warm farewell of my friends."^[1] Nevertheless, the duty with which he had been entrusted—namely, that of travelling overland to meet the mission about to be despatched from India to survey a new route for commerce between Burma and Western China—was one which excited his keenest enthusiasm. "Only think what a glorious opportunity I shall have of seeing this wonderful country, and of bringing to light numerous facts as yet unknown from regions untrodden by foreigners. You cannot think how elated I am,"^[2] is a single example of many that might be quoted from his journal or his letters, showing the intense interest and satisfaction which, despite the most cruel ill-health, he felt in the journey which lay before him. And the goal to be attained was kept steadfastly in sight. "You must picture me standing alone on the heights of the Momein pass, far away

1. Letter to his mother, August 24th, 1874.
2. Letter to his parents, August 15th, 1874.