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‘Curry and Rice (on Forty Plates), or the Ingredients of Social Life at "Our" Station in India’ by Captain George Francklin Atkinson was first published in 1859, immediately after the Indian Mutiny (1857-58). However, the book does not refer to the mutiny except for a brief mention of the unrest in the preface: ‘…by dwelling upon the sunny side of Indian life, after all the narratives of horror that have of late fallen upon the English ear’.

'Our Judge' from 'Curry and Rice...' Repro ID F4032_1 © NMM London. The book satirizes British officials and residents in the fictional village of Kabob in India, affectionately referred to by Atkinson as ‘Our Station’. The people and places mentioned are probably caricatures of those Atkinson encountered as a Captain in the Bengal Engineers. Atkinson was a keen artist and drew all of the 40 plates in the book. Each plate is accompanied by a brief description.

Atkinson was not afraid to make fun of authority figures in the province. One such character is Turmeric, ‘Our Judge’ (above right), described as English by birth but a permanent Indian resident, with a passion for the minutiae of law and playing the bass. The plate depicts Turmeric at work, dealing with a matter of court surrounded by Indian gentlemen.

'Our Spins' from 'Curry and Rice...' Repro ID F4032_2 © NMM London. In another plate, Atkinson celebrates ‘Our Spins’, his term for the local spinster population of Kabob. The spinsters are described thus: ‘Loveliness! That characteristic of British woman, is but faintly exemplified among those at ‘Our Station’”, which demonstrates the satirical nature of the book.

Places of interest in Kabob are also featured, including ‘Our Bath’ (below) the local watering place that, according to the description is frequented solely by men, usually in the early morning before breakfast.

'Our Bath' from 'Curry and Rice...' Repro ID F4032_3 © NMM London. The appeal of this item is two-fold. It mocks the people and places of Kabob with seemingly gentle but extremely acute and humorous observations. The plates provide a fascinating insight into life in India (albeit a fictionalised version) in the mid-19th century. This item demonstrates the sheer diversity of the Caird Library’s collection.

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