PUNJAB, A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THE, translated and edited by H.L.O. Garrett, and first published in 1935 by the Punjab Government Record Office, Lahore, is a compendium of two travelogues. The first part comprises the portion of Victor Jacquemont`s Journal which deals with his travels through the Punjab and Kashmir. Jacquemont`s description of the condition and administration of the cis Sutlej area after the Anglo Sikh treaty of 1809 is particularly interesting. So is his account of Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s court, and comments on the character and personal habits of the Maharaja who is described as a thin little man with an attractive face, in spite of having lost an eye from smallpox, a lively hunter and lover of horses.
He specially praises Ranjit Singh for his powers of conversation and for his shrewd judgement. He writes: “Ranjit Singh is almost the first inquisitive Indian I have seen, but his curiosity makes up for the apathy of his whole nation. He asked me a hundred thousand questions about India, the English, Europe, Bonaparte, this world in general and the other one, hell and paradise, the soul, God, the devil, and a thousand things besides.” Avarice was, according to Jacquemont, the ruling passion of the Maharaja`s life and he had amassed a treasure worth 8,00,00,000 rupees.
His government had no fixed rules; he ruled as he willed. He was more or less a sceptic. The Maharaja visited Amritsar twice a year to bathe in the sacred pool and made pilgrimages to the tombs of celebrated Muslim saints as well. Speaking of the economic condition of the people, Jacquemont observes that the territory of the Sikhs was the most fertile and better cultivated than anywhere else in India. A man could subsist on one piece a day, a labourer`s wage was 45 piece a day; an infantryman received a salary of 56 rupees a month. Jacquemont describes Ludhiana as a city with a flourishing trade with India and Afghanistan.
Rich merchants and bankers with business connections abroad live in the town which then had a total population of 20,000. Amritsar, the largest city in the Punjab, was rich and affluent, its population being a mixture of races and religions. Jacquemont characterized the Sikh rule in Kashmir as chaotic and rapacious. He furnishes some details about the trade between Kashmir and Tibet. For instance, in 1834, Kashmir imported 60,000 seers of raw wool, 7,0008,000 pounds of tea, gold and silver, musk, dried fruit against export of grain. The second part of the book relates to the travels of Prince Alexis Solty koff which are ten years later in date than Jacquemont`s.
The Prince, who belonged to a distinguished Russian family, was primarily an artist and his journey through India was one long search for `colour`. Among other places, he visited Delhi, Shimla and Lahore. According to the editor of the book, his account of the Sikh kingdom “compares very curiously with that of Jacquemont.” However, many changes had occurred since Jacquemont`s visit. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was dead; the reigning monarch Sher Singh of whose court much detail has been given is described as a “somewhat uneasy figure, very much afraid of George Russell Clerk, the British Agent.” BJ.H.
Punjab, A Hundred Years Ago, The translated and edited by H.L.O. Garrett:
Summary
Punjab, A Hundred Years Ago, The is a translation and editorial compilation of early travel accounts originally penned by V. Jacquemont (1831) and A. Soltykoff (1842). In this work, H.L.O. Garrett brings together these historical descriptions to offer a vivid portrait of the Punjab region as it stood in the early decades of the 19th century—a time when its traditional socio-political and cultural landscapes were still largely intact before the full onset of modern colonial transformation.
The text spans roughly 130 pages and presents detailed observations on Punjab’s geography, its urban and rural settlements, the physical and cultural landscape, and the social institutions that governed local life. The original authors’ accounts capture everything from the natural features—rivers, plains, and fortifications—to the intricate details of local customs, administrative practices, and the interactions between indigenous power structures and emergent colonial influences. These travel narratives serve as an invaluable record, preserving insights into the region’s heritage and the way of life that prevailed a hundred years ago.
Exploration
Historical and Cultural Context:
The work is a snapshot of Punjab prior to major modern changes. By compiling observations from the early 1800s, Garrett’s edition provides modern readers with a window into a world where traditional governance, local customs, and a distinct cultural identity still flourished. It reflects the traditions that later underwent transformation under the pressures of colonial administration and modernization.
Influence of Travel Literature:
Jacquemont and Soltykoff, the original authors, were part of a broader tradition of travel literature that sought to document “exotic” regions for a European audience. Their detailed descriptions in the genre of Orientalist travel writing not only record material conditions—like the natural environment and built features—but also offer keen observations on the social fabric of Punjab. Garrett’s translation makes these early accounts accessible, allowing contemporary scholars to consider both the original details and the lens through which they were originally viewed.
Editorial and Translation Considerations:
H.L.O. Garrett’s role in translating and editing this work is significant. His editorial choices determine which aspects of the early travel literature are foregrounded for modern audiences. For example, the emphasis on the region’s geography, the lives of its people, or the intricacies of local governance may reflect both the original authors’ interests and Garrett’s perspective on what would be most informative to his readers. Such editorial interventions raise questions about what is kept, what is downplayed, and how the cultural encounter between East and West is represented in printed history.
Scholarly and Contemporary Relevance:
Historical Reconstruction: Researchers and historians now use this work as a primary source to reconstruct the socio-cultural and political landscape of early 19th-century Punjab. It serves as a benchmark against which changes in the regional identity can be measured over the subsequent century and beyond.
Comparative Historiography: Comparing the accounts contained in this work with other contemporary descriptions or later local histories can offer insights into the evolution of Punjab’s identity. It also provides evidence of how colonial perspectives and Orientalist methods influenced the recording of non-Western histories.
Cultural Legacy: The detailed reportage on local customs and social institutions enriches our understanding of Punjab’s historical legacy. For modern readers, this work emphasizes that many of the traditions and practices observed in Punjab’s contemporary cultural life have roots that extend deeply into its past.
