ELEVEN YEARS IN CEYLON: COMPRISING SKETCHES OF THE FIELD SPORTS AND NATURAL HISTORY OF THAT COLONY, AND AN ACCOUNT OF ITS HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES. Voumes I and II. By Major Forbes, 78th Highlanders.

(1840) 1994 facsimile reprint. Two volumes. Small 8vo (124 x 187mm). Ppiv,xxiv,423;ii,viii,356. B/w illustrations. Full green pictorial bonded leather.

An extensive and detailed account of Ceylon at the beginning of the nineteenth century by an enthusiast. The entire history of Ceylon is dealt with, as is British involvement to the time of publication. The author describes the country in detail with many observations of the Ceylonese themselves and their legends. Lots and lots on elephants, elephant catching and elephant hunting with a certain amount of crocodile shooting, and incidental game birds here and there. Volume II follows the same pattern as Volume I, but deals with other parts of the country. Colonial history in Volume II covers Portuguese and Dutch involvement, with a chapter on the aboriginal Veddahs, buddhism and another on the Sinhalese language and literature. Tamil seems to barely get a mention. A two volume set in matching bindings.