First edition of the French translation (cf. Chadenat, 494; Brunet I, 24.)
Contemporary half green sheep, smooth spines faded and decorated with double gilt fillets, marbled paper sides with minor rubbing, marbled endpapers, two small tears at the joints, contemporary bindings.
Light waterstain to the upper right corner of a number of leaves in the second volume.
An Indian traveller, Mirza Abu Taleb Khan was born in 1752 at Lucknow in Hindustan and died in Calcutta in 1806.
After serving in the army of the Nawab of Oudh, he embarked for Europe on 16 February 1799 with his friend Captain David Richardson.
Following a three-month stay at the Cape, he landed at Cork in Ireland on 9 December of the same year.
He resided in London for more than two years and, in 1802, travelled to Paris. He returned to his country via Constantinople, Mosul, Baghdad and Basra (cf. Hoefer). "Cet ouvrage contient des anecdotes piquantes et des observations judicieuses sur les peuples visités par l'auteur" (Chadenat).
Chapters XXVI to XXVIII relate to Malta, Smyrna, the Dardanelles and Constantinople (description, character of the Turks, government, the author’s presentation to the Sultan).