Honigberger's classic account of his time with Ranjit Singh in the Punjab.

Johann Martin Honigberger (10 March 1795-1869) was an Imperial Austrian physician and traveller. Whilst in the Middle East, he met some French generals serving Maharajah Ranjit Singh, who was in the process ofsetting up a modern army to counter growing British influence. He was told that they did not have a single doctor there and he would be hired immediately. So he set off on an adventure to reach Lahore.

When he reached the city, the four French generals and the Maharajah were away doing battle in Peshawar. So he waited and when he returned initially maharajah ignored him. Then one day the maharajah summoned him and told him that if he wanted to prove himself, first he must treat his favourite horse which was 'suffering from ulcers'. This the doctor did, and soon the maharajah took a liking for him and offered him command of an artillery regiment: 'I politely informed him that I was a doctor not a soldier'. But the maharajah wanted to do something for him and decided to make him superintendent of the gunpowder factory.

As luck would have it the son of Rajah Dhyan Singh, the prime minister, had suffered a bullet wound to the head. Honigberger treated him and it was this that convinced the maharajah that Dr. Honigberger was a genuine doctor.

Honigberger describes Maharajah Ranjit Singh in these words: 'He lost one eye in childhood due to small pox. He was remarkably short and very delicate. His outstanding feature is his remarkable memory. At heart he is a very kind man. He rarely does what is expected of him and invariably moves contrary to what the astrologists tell him. On the dark side he is devoted to sensuality and strong spirits'.

First edition. 8vo, xxx, 206; x, 448 pp., frontispiece portrait (lightly stained), map, 47 lithograph plates including folding panorama of Lucknow, text generally a little toned, occasional nicks to margins expertly repaired, modern half calf gilt by Trevor Lloyd, a very good copy.