This view of Ghuznee possesses considerable interest, having been the scene of a successful attack by the British, under the command of Lord Keane, but which, alas! has since capitulated, the troops having been attacked by the Ghazees, a dreadful slaughter ensued, one hundred only of the Sepoys, with Colonel Palmer and several other British officers of the Bombay Establishment, narrowly escaping with their life. In approaching the walls of this fortress, there is a considerable ascent across the bridge to the rampart on the east side. The gate was lying in fragments, and a bastion to the right of it was also demolished. The ascent inside is very abrupt, to the citadel, which is very spacious, and built wholly on a hill, but sloping more gradually down towards the South West, where the tower is situated. The North-East angle of the citadel is commanded by a hill, no great distance from it, and behind which the British batteries were placed, which did considerable execution. Between the gate and citadel, about half-way up, was placed the far-famed brass 68-pounder, called Zubur-Jung, “the mighty in battle.” It was worked by an Hindoostanee, over whom a guard was placed with drawn swords, to compel him to perform his duty. The Two Minars, here introduced, bear strong marks of former beauty and elegance; they are built of red brick, with most exquisite finish, in various minute forms, highly curious and ornamental. The inscriptions executed on various parts of the columns are in the Togra-Arabic character, the letters strongly mingled, but producing an agreeable combination of Mussulman taste. The admeasurement of the higher is computed at about 180 feet, while the other is not so high by at least twenty feet. Sketches in Afghanistan, Henry Graves & Co. and W.H. Allen & Co., London, 1842. Letterpress title printed in blue incorporating list of plates, tinted lithographic title, dedication leaf, 25 tinted plates by Louis and Charles Haghe. This is one of the earliest collections of views of Afghanistan. James Atkinson, the celebrated translator of Firdausi’s Shah Nameh and one of the first Europeans to explore Afghanistan, was on of the pioneers of oriental studies. The lithographers Louis and Charles Haghe were involved in a number of important publications in the 1840’s and 1850’s and are celebrated for the particular high quality of their work.