Burton, R: Kama Sutra

A Note on the Text Sir Richard Burton's Introduction PART I: THE VATSYAYANA SUTRA Chapter i Preface: Salutation to Dharma, Artha & Kama Chapter ii On the Acquisition of Dharma, Artha & Kama Chapter iii On the Arts & Sciences to Be Studied Chapter iv The Life of a Citizen Chapter v About the Kinds of Women Resorted to by the Citizens, & of Friends & Messengers PART II: ON SEXUAL UNION Chapter i Kinds of Sexual Union According to Dimensions, Force of Desire or Passion, Time Chapter ii Of the Embrace Chapter iii On Kissing Chapter iv On Pressing, or Marking, or Scratching with the Nails Chapter v On Biting, & the Means to Be Employed with Regard to Women of Different Countries Chapter vi Of the Different Ways of Lying Down, & Various Kinds of Congress Chapter vii Of the Various Modes of Striking, & of the Sounds Appropriate to Them Chapter viii About Women Acting the Part of a Man; & of the Work of a Man Chapter ix Of the Auparishtaka or Mouth Congress Chapter x Of the Way How to Begin & How to End the Congress. Different Kinds of Congress & Love Quarrels PART III: ABOUT THE ACQUISITION OF A WIFE Chapter i On Marriage Chapter ii Of Creating Confidence in the Girl Chapter iii On Courtship, & the Manifestation of the Feelings by Outward Signs & Deeds Chapter iv About Things to Be Done Only by the Man, & the Acquisition of the Girl Thereby. Also What is to Be Done by a Girl to Gain Over a Man, & Subject Him to Her Chapter v On Certain Forms of Marriage PART IV: ABOUT A WIFE Chapter i On the Manner of Living of a Virtuous Woman, & of Her Behaviour During the Absence of Her Husband Chapter ii On the Conduct of the Elder Wife towards the Other Wives of Her Husband, & on That of a Younger Wife towards the Elder Ones. Also on the Conduct of a Virgin Widow Re-Married; Of a Wife Disliked by Her Husband; Of the Women in the King's Harem; & Lastly on the Conduct of a Husband towards Many Wives PART

Mallanaga Vatsyayana was the Hindu philosopher credited with writing the original work in the sixth century AD. In his own words, 'a person acquainted with the true principles of this science, who preserves his Dharma (virtue or religious merit), his Artha (worldly wealth) and his Kama (pleasure or sensual gratification), and who has regard to the customs of the people, is sure to obtain the mastery over his senses. In short, an intelligent and knowing person attending to Dharma and Artha and also to Kama, without becoming the slave of his passions, will obtain success in everything that he may do.' Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) was an English explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer and diplomat. His best-known achievements include travelling in disguise to Mecca, an unexpurgated translation of One Thousand and One Nights, and bringing the Kama Sutra to publication in English - thereby introducing the world to what is now regarded as a standard work on human sexual behaviour. Following a career in the army of the East India Company serving in India (and later, briefly, in the Crimean War), he was engaged by the Royal Geographical Society to explore the east coast of Africa and led the expedition guided by the locals that discovered Lake Tanganyika. In later life he served as British consul in Fernando Po, Santos, Damascus and, finally, Trieste. He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and was awarded a knighthood in 1886.