1853.] Travels in Central Asia. 283 



Abstract of a Journal Jcept by Mr. Gardiner during his travels 

 in Central Asia — with a Note and Introduction. — By M. P. Edge- 

 worth, JEsq/., B. C. 8. 



As every contribution to the geography of little known regions 

 is interesting, I submit the following extracts and abstract of a 

 journal kept by a Mr. Gardiner. These journals were lent by him. 

 to the late Sir Alex. Burnes in Cabul, and but partially recovered. 

 They were written, he informs me, mostly on scraps of paper at the 

 time, and during a subsequent residence in Cabul thrown into the 

 shape they now have, occupying several volumes of country paper. 

 Two volumes remained in Col. Burnes' hands, and were lost at the 

 time of the Cabul disasters. One of these unfortunately, related 

 to the journey through CafFeristan. The route taken by Mr. Gardi- 

 ner is in most parts quite different from that followed by any 

 European traveller ; he merely crosses the routes of Lieut. Wood 

 and Mr. Moorcroft ; the late travellers Messrs. Winterbottom, 

 Agnew, and Lieut. Young, in 1848, penetrated into Gilget, and the 

 boundary Commissioners, Messrs. Cunningham and Strachey with 

 Dr. Thomson, came on his route near the Kara Korum, leaving the 

 central region traversed by Mr. Gardiner still unexplored. 



I have not made any attempt to compare the routes and induc- 

 tions of Mr. Gardiner with those travellers, as I have neither the 

 materials nor leisure requisite for the purpose ; I give a bare abstract 

 of his route with brief descriptions of the country and remarkable 

 objects. I also give one specimen at greater length of his visit to 

 one very remarkable spot. I cannot but think that were Mr. Gar- 

 diner's rough materials placed in good hands, and the losses above 

 noted replaced, a most interesting book of travels might be con- 

 structed. 



February 9th, 1853. M. Pakenham Edgewoeth. 



Introduction. 



Mr. Gardiner is son of a Dr. Gardiner in the Mexican service. 

 He was educated for several years at the Jesuit College of Clon- 

 goose in Ireland. On his father's death in 1823, he left Mexico 

 with the intention of joining his elder brother, who was in the Eus- 



