An Account of The Kingdom of Nepal

Roads, rivers and mountain settlements give Francis Hamilton's account of Nepal much of its texture. His introduction describes fourteen months spent mainly near Kathmandu in 1802 and 1803, followed by information gathering along the frontier. He combines personal observations with reports and maps supplied by local advisers, travellers and officials, explaining the sources behind his description of the country before the war that began in 1814.

The book ranges across regional communities, cultivation, climate, government and the histories of ruling families. In the route description through Bichhakor and Hethaura, distances, water supplies, forest cover and the passage of loaded cattle receive close attention. Such details make the work useful for readers studying historical geography and the practical conditions of travel. Hamilton's discussion of disagreements between maps also shows how he weighed evidence when assembling his account.