LAL, Mohan.

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Life of the Amir Dost Mohammed Khan, of Kabul: First edition, handsomely bound, detailing the political and diplomatic background to the first Anglo-Afghan War by studying the life of Britain's main adversary, the Great Emir. The author, Mohan Lal, was "Bokhara" Burnes's most important intelligence operative, travelling extensively in Persia and Afghanistan and running a string of agents for the British.In 1841, as the situation in Kabul became critical, Lal tried to warn Burnes of the fact that he was the focus of rising discontent. However, the Scotsman foolishly believed that he would be able to talk his way out of the situation. Lal escaped the ensuing bloodbath and continued to supply information from the Afghan capital. In 1844 he visited Scotland to return some papers to the Burnes family. The Montrose Review described him as: "A very handsome man, of 28 years... his countenance beams with intelligence; and his intercourse with Europeans has enabled him to adapt himself, with perfect tact, to all their habits and modes of thinking, so that he can sustain, with ease and propriety, his part in any general conversation" (p. 5). He returned to London and remained for some time, during which period he wrote the present work.

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