Goa and the Blue Mountains; or, Six months of sick leave by Burton

Featured

Goa and the Blue Mountains; or, Six months of sick leave by Burton

(1 User reviews) 374

By Asher Baker Posted on Mar 30, 2026

In Category - Art History

Authors: Burton, Richard Francis, Sir, 1821-1890 Published By : Burton, Richard Francis, Sir, 1821-1890

Book Language: English

Hey, have you ever wondered what a Victorian explorer did with six months of forced vacation? Sir Richard Francis Burton, the guy who famously snuck into Mecca in disguise, gets sidelined by illness in India. Instead of resting, he decides to explore the Portuguese colony of Goa and then trek into the mysterious Blue Mountains of southern India. This book is his wild travel diary from 1847. It’s not your typical adventure story—there’s no single villain or treasure map. The real conflict is Burton versus everything: his own poor health, dense jungles, unfamiliar cultures, and the sheer, exhausting challenge of just getting somewhere no European had properly described before. He’s a brilliant, grumpy, and wildly observant guide. You get his unfiltered thoughts on colonial life, Hindu temples, local customs, and the stunning landscapes. It’s like being on a rugged, unpredictable road trip with the smartest and most opinionated history professor you can imagine. If you love real-life adventures told with sharp wit and zero sentimentality, this is your next read.

File: Goa and the Blue Mountains; or, Six months of sick leave by Burton

Picture this: It's 1847, and a young British army officer in India is ordered to take six months off to recover from illness. For most people, that means rest. For Sir Richard Francis Burton, it's an invitation. This book is the record of where that invitation led: first to the faded Portuguese colony of Goa on the coast, and then on a daring, difficult journey into the rugged hill ranges of southern India, then known as the Blue Mountains.

The Story

There's no traditional plot here. Instead, Burton acts as our fiercely intelligent and often critical tour guide. He starts in Goa, describing its crumbling churches and mixed heritage with a keen eye. But he's soon drawn inland, lured by the mountains on the horizon. What follows is a tough expedition. He travels with local guides, navigating dense forests, dealing with unreliable transport, and observing villages and tribes. He writes about everything he sees—from religious rituals and local politics to the practicalities of finding food and shelter. The "story" is the journey itself: the physical struggle, the cultural discoveries, and Burton's constant, analytical commentary on it all.

Why You Should Read It

You read this for Burton's voice. He's not a warm, fuzzy travel writer. He's sharp, sarcastic, deeply curious, and sometimes prejudiced by his time. That makes him fascinating. You're not getting a polished, romantic view of India; you're getting the raw, immediate impressions of a phenomenal linguist and explorer. His descriptions are vivid. You can feel the humidity of the jungle and the chill of the mountain air. More than a geography lesson, it's a snapshot of a world in transition and a portrait of a restless mind turning forced inactivity into a legendary adventure.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love real exploration stories and don't mind a narrator who's a bit of a grumpy genius. If you enjoyed Patrick Leigh Fermor's wanderings or the curious spirit of books like The Songlines, you'll find a kindred spirit in Burton. It's also great for anyone interested in 19th-century India beyond the standard British colonial narrative. A word of caution: his views are very much of his era. Read it for the incredible firsthand account and the force of his personality, but keep a modern perspective handy.