In 1890, American writer Mary Thorn Carpenter visited India, documenting her experiences in her 1892 book, 'A Girl's Winter in India.' Her account offers a rare perspective from a Western woman during British colonial rule, detailing her fascination with Bombay's diverse people and vibrant street life. While appreciating the subcontinent's richness, her writings reflect the colonial biases of her era, with modern readers finding some observations, like her casual mention of 'punkahwallahs,' problematic.