1807 A Journey from Madras through the Countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar

Description

First Edition, Illustrated, Leather Binding

Illustrated with a large coloured map, frontispiece, and thirty-seven plates across all volumes. The plates illustrate the people, plants, tools, animals and many other sights recorded by Buchanan on this large survey. The large map was produced by Major C Crawford, and it traces Buchanan''s route across India. The drawings of the Mysore princes to the work are by the Marquis Wellesley who appointed Buchanan to survey this land. The sample drawings are mostly by Buchanan himself. These three volumes form Buchanan's journal of his survey. He was requested to undertake this survey following the defeat of Tipu Sultan and the fall of Mysore with 'the first great and essential object of your attention should be the agriculture of the country'. The preface outlines Buchanan's main objectives of understanding more about India's esculent vegetables, their cattle, farms, cotton, pepper, mines, quarries, mineral springs, manufactures and manufacturers, the climate and finally the inhabitants. This preface provides valuable information on his mission. With the half-title to volume I only as called for. With the errata to all volumes. Buchanan made significant contributions as a geographer, zoologist and botanist during this time in India. This work was published under the authority and patronage of the Directors of the Wast India Company. The DNB notes 'At the same time his survey, in both its portrayal of Tipu Sultan as a rapacious tyrant and its inventory of Mysore's natural wealth, vindicated Wellesley's controversial conquest, thereby earning Buchanan the governor-general's continued affection' (ODNB). Volume III has an extensive appendix and glossary. A very detailed work on this part of India in the early nineteenth century.