The Land of the Great Image

Maurice Collis’s The Land of the Great Image (1943) vividly recounts the 17th‑century travels of Friar Sebastian Manrique in Arakan, weaving history, religion, and adventure into a compelling narrative of Asia’s cultural crossroads. Complete with folding map and photographic plates, this first edition is a fine example of Collis’s celebrated Burma scholarship.

Illustrations & Appendices

1. Friar Manrique’s Mission
   • Background on the Augustinian order and Manrique’s journey from Goa into Bengal and Arakan.
2. The Portuguese in Asia
   • Context of Portuguese colonial and missionary activity in the 17th century.
3. Arrival in Arakan
   • Manrique’s first impressions of the kingdom, its rulers, and Buddhist traditions.
4. Court Life and Coronation
   • Detailed description of royal ceremonies, coronations, and the cultural interplay of Buddhist and Hindu practices.
5. Conflict and Conversion Attempts
   • Efforts to spread Christianity, resistance from local rulers, and tensions with Muslim traders.
6. Sieges and Political Intrigue
   • Accounts of battles, shifting alliances, and the precarious position of Europeans in Arakan.
7. Religious Encounters
   • Dialogues between Catholic missionaries, Buddhist monks, and Hindu priests.
8. The Decline of Portuguese Influence
   • How Manrique’s mission faltered, and the broader decline of Portuguese power in the Bay of Bengal.
9. Return and Reflections

• Manrique’s departure, his writings, and Collis’s reflections on the historical significance of his journey.

• 15 photographic plates (temples, statues, landscapes, manuscripts)
• 4 plans (maps of Arakan, palace layouts, missionary routes)
• Folding map at the rear showing Arakan and surrounding regions
• Bibliography and index