Small Quarto. Manuscript on paper. [36]pp, excluding blanks. Two pencil sketches of a passenger in a horse and carriage and a guide respectively. Contemporary limp black cloth. Extremities rubbed. Several leaves torn out.

A mid-nineteenth century manuscript account of a sojourn in the North-West provinces of India in the hand of lawyer, antiquary, and nephew of Horatio Nelson, George Nelson Matcham (1789-1877). The diary, covering thirty-two days of the journey, predominantly records Matcham's often unsuccessful attempts at hunting Indian antelope:

'Tuesday 24th. Got up early breakfasted about 6 am and drove off to Sultanpore...arrived there about 9 am, found two elephants ready to take us out shooting, with carriages on them, with every container for carrying guns, cartridges etc. – rode out about 3 miles...and eventually saw a herd of Blackbuck, got out rifles and dismounted, and tried to get near them but the Shikarees were very poor at their work & we could not get near, each had a few wild shots at them as they went off, but did not get one – so on all day'.

A charming insight into the trials and tribulation of an English gentleman to all appearances somewhat unsuited to the climate and customs of India.