Born on the island of Skye, off the West coast of Scotland, Campbell (1802-1877) joined the East India Company in 1820. In 1834 he was ordered to Odisha to quell an insurrection among the Khonds (the hill tribes inhabiting the Eastern Ghats), returning there in the Goomsoor war of 1836-7. Having accumulated valuable local knowledge Campbell was given charge of the Khonds, with the aim of suppressing the practices of human sacrifice and female infanticide. Without the use of troops Campbell managed to save hundreds of potential victims, but following the arrival of his successor, Capt. Macpherson, disturbances broke out and Campbell was ordered back to take charge once more. After serving in India for over 30 years Campbell returned to Britain and was promoted to Major-General in 1859. Following the publication of his book he was awarded the Star of India in 1866 for his work in the great subcontinent. His final promotion was to General in 1872, five years before his death in Edinburgh.

Significant deposits of Bauxite are to be found in the caps of the largest mountains in South Odisha, and since 1920s the Khonds have seen many of the sacred mountains of Khondistan destroyed.

First edition. 8vo, [xii], 320, [8](ads)pp., folding map, title-page vignette, frontispiece, 5 wood-engraved plates, original purple fine wavy-grained cloth gilt, gilt pictorial vignette to upper cover, light wear, a very good copy.

Riddick 81.