At the top of the strong ghaut or pass is a round tower, or watch-house, called Buzrak, and from this eminence the Valley of Maidan is distinctly seen, although but a small portion of it is represented in this view. The beauty of this valley is semi-circular, about a mile and a half wide, and four miles long, hemmed in by the most sterile hills, with a charming silver line of river flowing through its centre, and the trees, meadow, and plantations, always appearing bright and glowing. The troops are here seen on their march from Maidan to the village of Urghundee. The road for five miles is an ascent, most rough and rugged, and intersected with deep ravines, where numerous camels belonging to the Brigade in advance had perished, and many left, exhausted, to die. 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.