New edition of the French translation, reissued for sale with a substitute title, of this anonymous account first printed in 1793 (Schwab, 612. Barbier, IV, 1097e. Quérard, Supercheries, I, 606e.).
The translation is by Louis Matthieu Langlès and François Joseph Noël.
Contemporary full tree calf, smooth spine with gilt-decorated compartments, gilt fillet at foot, joints rubbed, spine ends worn, maroon morocco title label, endpapers and pastedowns lightly soiled at margins, corners bumped.
The work includes a description of the principal towns and regions visited during the journey from Bengal to Persia: Ceylon, Goa, Bombay, Muscat, Oman, Bushehr, Shiraz, followed by numerous details on Persian customs and manners, character, justice system, marriage, funeral rites, religion, superstitions and talismans, and Shiraz wine…
It then addresses the revolutions in Persia from 1747, the year of Nadir Shah’s death, to 1788. The final section deals with the island of Pulau Pinang (Malaysia), with a description of its natural resources and the opium trade.
Appended are several excerpts by other travellers concerning this island (by Le Gentil and Captain Thomas F.).
An early handwritten note evaluating the work appears on the half-title.