Voyage à l'Île de Ceylan, fait dans les années 1797 à 1800 ; Contenant l'Histoire, la Géographie et la Description des moeurs des habitans, ainsi que celle des productions naturelles du pays, par Robert Percival, Suivi de la relation d'une Ambassade envoyée, en 1800, au roi de Candy ; orné de plusieurs Planches, et d'une Carte de l'île de Ceylan, dressée par M. Arrowsmith, d'après l'original appartenant à la Compagnie de Indes Orientales. Traduit de l'anglais par P.F. Henry. (2 volumes)
Paris: Dentu 1803. First French Edition. [2], 6, 316 pages + 2 maps + [4], 304 + 2 folding maps. Two volumes bound in one. 3/4 vellum over paper boards (paper spine labels, now illegible). Stamped exlibrary copy with several institutional stamps on title page and early Library of Congress / Smithsonian Deposit label on front pastedown. Surplus Library of Congress Stamp on rear flyleaf. (title page too closely reglued at some point with some marginal tearing of the paper). Very occasional foxing. The four folding plates are printed on thick paper, and in excellent condition noting some minor brown spots, refolds, and minor offsetting. Text in French. Near Fine. Boards. [25687]
The first edition was published in London in English in the same year, this is the first French edition.
Percival was a traveler and writer, and authored this work and another "An Account of the Cape of Good Hope, containing an Historical View of its original Settlement by the Dutch, and a Sketch of its Geography, Productions, the Manners and Customs of its Inhabitants,’ &c., London, 1804"... "In 1797 he also visited Ceylon, where he speaks of residing three years, and of which he wrote and published a description: ‘An Account of Ceylon, with the Journal of an Embassy to the Court of Candy,’ London, 1803. In this he notices the effects of the Portuguese and Dutch rule, which looked (especially the former) as if it ‘tried to counteract as much as possible the natural advantages of the island.’ He gives various instances of Dutch cruelty and treachery, and attempts to characterise three classes of ‘natives’—the Cingalese of the coast, the Candians of the interior, and the Malays. The pearl fishery, the town and forts of Colombo, the salt works of the island, the staple commodity of cinnamon, above all, the inland capital of Candy, are noticed in other chapters. Sydney Smith declared the work to ‘abound with curious and important information.’ Percival died in 1826." (DNB)
Price: $450.00