Journal Of An Embassy From The Governor-General Of India To The Courts Of Siam And Cochin China

The author’s mission was of considerable historical significance, being the first major European mission to Thailand since the seventeenth century and the last British mission to Vietnam. For nearly 150 years, his Journal has been an indispensable handbook for those interested in nineteenth-century South-East Asia. This large-sized book is the narrative of a journey that the author undertook as an ambassador of the government of India to Siam (Thailand) and to the area then called as Cochin-China - the continental part of south-east Asia, in 1821 and 1822. In the manner that typifies the narrative of ambassadors in the early 1800's, this account describes just about everything about the lands that the author passed through. He started from Calcutta, and ended his journey in Singapore. Throughout the book the reader will find acute observations on the geography and natural studies; state and condition of the natives; their everyday life, customs and festivals; descriptions of imperial and territorial courts; the state of the army; the trade and commerce; visits to monuments and temples; description of cities and villages, etc. This work has 26 illustrations, of which 11 are wood-cuts, and is a reprint of the 1828 edition.