The Great Arc: The dramatic tale of how India was mapped and Everest named by
John Keay, HarperCollins, £14.99, ISBN 0002570629
QUEEN Victoria’s empire builders had a slogan: “Trade follows the flag.” But
everything happened in reverse when they got to India. It was only after the
East India Company had set up its mercantile empire that Britain pushed on with
conquest. And following that army came another to measure the territorial booty.
British surveyors and mappers swarmed over India, to the bewilderment of
multitudes of Indians.
Two men, William Lambton and George Everest, took on the first and most…
