LADAKH STUDIES 12, Autumn 1999 - International Association for ...

Before his death, Michael had agreed to be the patron for the next Ladakh Studies conference in
Oxford. He was also working on the 19 th century Wise manuscripts, a collection of water color
paintings of Zangskar, Ladakh, and central Tibet. While the artist of these sketches remains
anonymous, Michael felt fairly certain that they had been commissioned by Frederick Drew, based
on the geological notations found in the drawings from the Zangskar valley. Michael had pursued
the mystery of the Wise manuscripts in his characteristic dogged but understated manner. Each time
we met in the last few years, he had more questions than I could answer, and each time, I promised
to send him notes on what I could find. I now regret that I did not do more when I still had the
chance.
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