Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official

Lieutenant-ColonelWilliamHenrySleeman(1788–1856)spenthisentirecareerinIndiaasanarmyofficerandlaterasamagistrateandresident.Hewasbestknownforhisfighttosuppresstheactivitiesof'thugs',bandsofcriminalswhoattacked,robbedandoftenmurderedinnocenttravellers.Bythetimeofthepublicationofthistwo-volumeworkin1844,SleemanhadlivedinIndiaformorethanthirtyyears.InVolume2,Sleemanexaminesmanyissuesrelatedtogovernance,suchasland,tax,militarydisciplineandthejusticesystem,andherecountssomeoftheextensiveconversationshehadwithIndiansonthesematters.HistravelsinthisvolumetakeshimthroughGwalior,Dholpur,AgraandBharatpur,andthebookincludesplatesofsomeofthespectacularbuildingsthathevisits.