The History and Doctrine of Budhism, Popularly Illustrated: With Notices of the Kappooism, or Demon Worship, and of the Bali, or Planetary Incantations of Ceylon

The History and Doctrine of Buddhism, Popularly Illustrated by Edward Upham is an early 19th-century Western account of Buddhism, particularly as practiced in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). The book explores the origins, teachings, and rituals of Buddhism, presenting key doctrines such as karma, rebirth, and nirvana in a form accessible to general readers. Upham also examines related local practices like Kappooism (demon worship) and Bali (planetary incantations), blending ethnographic observation with religious commentary. Though reflective of its colonial context and often orientalist in tone, the work provides valuable insight into early Western perceptions of Buddhism and Ceylonese religious culture.