Oral Tradition from the Indus (Illustrated Edition)

John Frederick Adolphus McNair (1828-1910) was a British Indian and colonial officer who proved himself a mult-talented civil servant in the service of the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore). His many roles included engineer, superintendant of convicts, manager of public works, and member of the commission for the pacification of Larut following the signing of the peace treaty in 1874. In 1846, aged 17, he left England to take a position with the British East India Company in Madras where he studied and became fluent in Hindustani, a skill that would stand him in good stead. From Madras he was transferred to Malacca in 1853, after which he was posted to Singapore where he acted as private secretary and aide-de-camp to the Governor of Straits Settlements. In 1857 he was appointed Executive Engineer and Superintendent of Convicts, and he was also responsible for Public Works and the Oriental Gaol in Singapore. His strong command of Hindustani meant he could easily converse with Indian convicts, who he employed in the construction of roads and buildings in Singapore. He later became Colonial Engineer and through his efforts the building of water works, which had long been plagued with failures, was successfully completed. After serving as Acting Resident Councillor to the Governor of Penang, and several missions to Siam (now Thailand) during which he came to be on good terms with the King, he resigned his position in 1884 on medical grounds after a long and distinguished career. He was the author of several books, including this collection of Indian folk tales, presented with explanatory notes and illustrations, which was co-written with Thomas Lambert Barlow, Late Superintendent, Chief Salt-range, India. Reprinted from the revised and corrected edition of 1908.