Alexander Burnes was a British diplomat and spy for the East India Company, traveling in disguise in India, Afghanistan, and Central Asia in order to map the territory, trace the course of the Indus River, and gain an understanding of the political authorities there. This account of his travels was first published by John Murray in three volumes in 1835; it remained a best-seller for years. This 2012 edition, edited down to one volume, includes a few editorial comments in the text to explain things unfamiliar to modern Western readers, plus an introduction and an epilogue. The book contains a color historical illustration on the front cover, but only two b&w historical illustrations inside. It is distributed in the US by Dufour. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)