Aged sixteen, Alexander Burnes (1805–41) took up a post in the Bombay army, and speedily learned both Hindustani and Persian. His skills led him to political work, and he himself proposed a covert expedition to Bukhara, to survey the country, but also to observe the expansionist activities of the Russians in central Asia. In 1832, he set off, with an army doctor, and two Indians as surveyor and secretary. They travelled in local dress and adopted whatever personas a situation required. Having reached Bukhara, they continued overland to the Caspian Sea, and then to Tehran, returning to Bombay by sea in 1833. This three-volume account of his adventures, published in 1834, was an instant bestseller. The first two volumes describe the expedition, and the third an earlier journey to Lahore. Burnes continued his diplomatic activities in Afghanistan, but was murdered there by a mob in 1841.

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Product details
- Date Published: July 2014
- format: Multiple copy pack
- isbn: 9781108075497
- length: 1248 pages
- dimensions: 216 x 140 x 73 mm
- weight: 1.63kg
- contains: 8 b/w illus. 1 map
- availability: Temporarily unavailable - available from TBC
Table of Contents
Volume 1: Preface
1. Lahore
2. Across the Punjab to the Indus
3. Peshawur
4. Journey to Cabool
5. Cabool
6. Journey over the Hindoo Koosh, or Snowy Mountains
7. Serious difficulties
8. Balkh, and journey to Bokhara
9. Bokhara
10. Bokhara (cont.)
11. Detention in the kingdom of Bokhara. Volume 2:
12. Journey in the desert of the Toorkmuns
13. Continuation of the journey in the Toorkmun desert
14. Khorasan
15. Journey among the Toorkmuns of the Caspian
16. Journey through Persia
Book I. General and Geographical Memoir on Part of Central Asia:
1. An account of the kingdom of Bokhara
2. The river Oxus
3. On the valley of the Oxus
4. On the reputed descendants of Alexander the Great
5. On the sources of the Indus
6. Notice on Yarkund
7. On the mountains of Hindoo Koosh
8. Toorkmania, or the country of the Toorkmuns
9. On the inroads of the Tatars
10. On the horses of Toorkistan
Book II. An Historical Sketch of the Countries between India and the Caspian Sea:
1. The Punjab
2. Historical sketch of events in Afghanistan
3. Chiefship of Peshawur
4. Chiefship of Cabool
5. On the affairs of Afghanistan
6. Summary on the affairs of Cabool
7. On the power of Koondooz
8. Sketch of the history of Bokhara
9. On the political and military power of Bokhara
10. On the state of Khiva, or Orgunje
11. On the N.E. frontier of Persia
Book III. On the Commerce of Central Asia:
1. On the commercial relations of the Punjab, and the advantages of opening the Indus
2. On the commerce of Cabool
3. On the commerce and foreign communications of Bokhara and central Asia
4. Notice on the trade of Persia: Observations on Burnes's collection of coins. Volume 3: Introduction
1. Arrival of presents from the king of England
2. Tatta described
3. Departure from Hydrabad
4. Quit Bukkur
5. Voyage in the country of the Seiks
6. Enter Lahore
Memoir on the Indus and its Tributary Rivers in the Punjab:
1. A general view of the Indus
2. A comparison of the Indus and Ganges
3. On Sinde
4. On the mouths of the Indus
5. On the delta of the Indus
6. The Indus from Tatta to Hydrabad
7. The Indus from Hydrabad to Sehwun
8. The Indus from Sehwun to Bukkur
9. The Indus from Bukkur
10. The Indus from Mittun to Attok
11. The Chenab, or Acesines, joined by the Sutlege, or Hesudrus
12. On Bhawul Khan's country
13. The Punjab
14. The Chenab joined by the Ravee
15. The Ravee below Lahore
16. A memoir of the eastern branch of the Indus, and the Run of Cutch.
Author
Alexander Burnes