SINCE the Daniells first published their large volumes of Views of Architecture, &c. in India, about the commencement of the century, a growing taste has been slowly spreading among Europeans for works illustrative of the Architecture, Scenery, Races, Costumes, &c., of the great Eastern dependency of our Empire. This has been partially met and fostered by such publications as Grindlay's "Views," &c., "The Indian Portfolio," Fergusson's " Rock-Cut Temples," and "Picturesque Illustrations of Indian Architecture," and, more recently, by numerous works illustrated by photography.
The belief that a selection of views from Gujarat and Rajputana would meet with public support, and help to spread a knowledge of the beauties of Indian Architecture and Scenery, has led the publishers to put forth the present volume of photographs, selected from a larger series taken by Mr. C. Murray, partner of the firm, during a tour in these provinces in the months of December 1872, January, February, and March 1873. I accompanied him, for the benefit of my health, through Ahmedabad, Pahlanpur, and the miserable remains of Chandravati, to Mount Abu, and thence through Sirohi to Sidri, by the Desuri Pass across the Aravali Hills, to Komalmer, Kailwa, Rajnagar, Nathdwara, Dilwad^, and Eklinga to Udaypur, and then to Chittur, where, leaving Mr. Murray to go by Bhainsrorgadh, Baroli, Kota, Bundi, Deoli, Rajmahal and Bisalpur to Ajmer, I went direct to Ajmer and Puskar en rouie for Jaypur and Agra. Instead of drawing entirely on my own notes for the materials of the letterpress, which would thereby have been more antiquarian in character, I have designedly drawn largely on the masterly criticisms of Mr. J. Fergusson in his Piciuresque Illustrations of Ancient Architecture in Hindostan, and History of Architecture,—works of the highest interest to every student of the History of Oriental Architecture, and from which I have been kindly permitted to use some of the woodcuts. I have also availed myself of the accounts of Tod, Heber, and Jacquemont, and the references appended to some of the articles will help the reader to fuller sources of information respecting many of the places noticed. I regret that these notes have been written so hurriedly, and without the care I could have otherwise wished to bestow on a subject so interesting and attractive.
- Edinburgh, 15 Dec. 1873.
