Through Amanullah's Afghanistan.

presentation copy to the governor of Bombay

The presentation copy to Sir Frederick Hugh Sykes, the Governor of Bombay, dated 22nd November 1929.

Sohrab Kavasji Hormuzdyar Katrak (1892-1972) was born to a leading Parsi family of Karachi. He eventually served as mayor of Karachi, and advised Ayub Khan during his presidency of independent Pakistan. In recognition for his services the government bestowed upon him their 'Sitara-e-Khidmat' civilian award of distinction.

This work offers an in-depth look into Afghanistan in the last year of reign of pro-British Amanullah Khan (r. 1919-29). Katrak travelled to Kabul by car from Peshawar, through the Khyber Pass and Jalalabad, to take part in the celebrations of the Afghanistan Independence Day. On the way he described Darulaman, Paghman, Bamyan, Ghazni, Kandahar and Quetta, as well as reflecting the character of Afghans and the Parsi population in Afghanistan.

Sir Frederick Hugh Sykes (1877-1954) was Governor of Bombay from 1928 until 1933.

First edition; 8vo (24 x 17 cm); additional presentation leaf in gilt bound at front, 20 photographic plates including portrait frontispiece, colour map; publisher's original alligator skin patterned cloth, lettering to upper cover and spines, a little rubbing to extremities, a very good copy; xxxiv, 145 pp.