Indian Customs and Deeds of Cruelty: Anecdotes and Barbarities

First published in the mid-nineteenth century, Indian Customs and Deeds of Cruelty: Anecdotes and Barbarities by Albert Alden reflects the colonial fascination—and moral unease—surrounding the customs, punishments, and social practices of the Indian subcontinent under British rule. Written in the sensational yet documentary style of its era, the work collects vivid accounts of traditional rituals, judicial punishments, and acts of cruelty, drawn from travelers, missionaries, and colonial officials.

While often shaped by the biases of Victorian imperial perspective, Alden’s narrative offers a revealing look into how 19th-century Western observers perceived the intersection of religion, power, and justice in Indian society. The book juxtaposes acts of violence and devotion, portraying a civilization both feared and misunderstood by its chroniclers.

Today, it endures as a historical artifact of colonial literature, valuable not for its conclusions, but for the insight it offers into the attitudes, ethnography, and moral assumptions of its time.

Complete edition of Albert Alden’s 19th-century ethnographic and colonial study

Chronicles Indian customs, punishments, and moral judgments under British rule

A historical document revealing Victorian perspectives on empire and culture

Essential for readers of colonial history, anthropology, and cross-cultural studies