Little is known of Captain Alexander Hamilton. First published in 1727, this book is both an invaluable source of information on South-East Asia at the time and a lively travelogue of Hamilton's adventurous sea­faring life in the service of the East India Company and independently between 1688 and 1723. He writes of encounters with pirates, the Portuguese, and of a poisoning in Malacca, and vivid descriptions of the countries he visited – from Africa to Japan, east coast of India, Sumatra, Java, Thailand, Cambodia and China – and their social customs, religions, trade and commerce. His maps and illustrations enhance the?value?of?his?narrative. About the Author Alexander Hamilton was a Scottish sea captain, privateer and merchant. On his arrival at Bombay in 1688, he was briefly pressed into the service of British East India Company to take part in a local war. Later he set up as a private trader operating from Surat. He was subsequently?appointed?as?Commander?of?the?British?Marine?in?1717.