Abstract: Letter requesting a copy of his demi-official letter to Sir Bartle Frere on proceedings in Russia to be ready on his return to Bushire; regarding the accounts of the Residency Library; and making correspondence arrangements including details of who to write to him via in Koweit [Kuwait] and what to do with mail received for him in his absence.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Letter, in Arabic and English, informing Pelly that the bearer of the letter, Abdool Assis Ben Assass [Abdul Aziz bin Aziz], will be his guide into the interior of Nejd if Pelly is still willing to employ him.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Brief notes written by Lewis Pelly, recording the lack of evidence of any practice of ceremonies based on sun or fire worship but highlighting some of the peoples in the region of Al Yamama [Al Yamāmah] who have names relating to the moon and stars.Enclosed with the notes is a report (folios 50-61) regarding the Selaib [Sebaih] tribe (of Qatif) and containing details of how the tribe got their name; how they commemorate festivals; their lack of ritual in relation to the burial of the dead; and their religious faith and beliefs.Physical description: 14 folios
Abstract: Memorandum regarding the diet of Bedouins in the interior of Nejd [Najd] and contrasting it with that of those in coastal areas.The memorandum focuses primarily on camel's milk, including the Bedouins' dependence on it during spring and its nourishing properties for both horses and goats.The memorandum goes on to discuss the tobaccos and other substances smoked by the Bedouins' where their pipes are purchases from, and the differing reactions to Bedouins smoking depending on where they are from.The memorandum itself is undated, however the information contained within it was most likely acquired by Lewis Pelly during his stay in Kuwait and subsequent visit to Riyadh January to March 1865.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Brief note about Koweit [Kuwait]'s main inland trade being with the Bedouins of Nejd [Najd] and that the trade consists of wood, weapons, coffee, rice, bamboo and piece goods as well as giving details on where these goods are brought from.Below the main note is a line about the climate in the Koweit neighbourhood.Although the note is undated, the information was most likely gathered during Pelly's visit there January to February 1865.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Note about the Mundwee [Mandvi] of Cutch [Kutch] and Occa including their names being derived from Medina and Mecca, and how this is believed to relate to the Prophet's tribe Kereish [Qureish].The memorandum goes on to discuss the family of the founder of the Wahabee [Wahhabi] sect, Abd al-Wahab, and how the spiritual power of the sect is now wholly apart from his family.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Memorandum, written by Lewis Pelly, about Mohammed ibn Saood [Muhammad ibn Sa'ud] who was the first ruler to conquer all of the Nejd [Najd] territory, as well as the provinces of Al Ahsa [Al Hasa], Khatif [Al Qatif] and part of the Omman [Oman] Coast.The memorandum also discusses his successors including his son Abdal al Azeex [Abdul-Aziz bin Muhammad ibn Sa'ud] and grandson Saood [Saud bin Abdul-Aziz bin Muhammad ibn Sa'ud] and the battles fought over the territory.The memorandum is undated, however it contains information most likely compiled by Lewis Pelly during his visit to Riyadh in March 1865.Physical description: 2 folios
Abstract: Duplicate copy of the printed memorandum (folio twenty-seven) recording the request from the Secretary to the Government of India for a full account of Pelly's visit to Riad [Riyadh] and giving the Government of Bombay resolution that the instruction should be forwarded to Pelly with a request that he comply with it as soon as possible.This duplicate copy does not have a memorandum number, nor is it dated or signed.Physical description: 2 folios
Abstract: Correspondence to and from Lewis Pelly regarding arrangements for and during Lewis Pelly's journey to Riyadh. There are three main types of correspondence contained within the file:Firstly, correspondence between Lewis Pelly and Ameer Faysul ben Torky aul Saood [Amir Faisal ibn Turki Al-Sa'ud] regarding Pelly's intention to travel to Riyadh to meet with him, and including correspondence with Eusef ben Beder [Yusuf bin Bedr] regarding arrangements for a guide to take him there.Secondly, correspondence between Lewis Pelly, Edwin Dawes, Chief Officer,
Bereniceand William Pears Johnstone, Political Agent at Busreh [Basra] regarding accompanying Pelly on his journey.Finally, correspondence with James Charles Edwards, Uncovenanted Assistant Resident at Bushire, and Captain Henry W Warner of
Bereniceregarding arrangements in Bushire during Pelly's absence, including care of his rooms and horses; arrangements for his mail including forwarding important letters to him; and arrangements for
Bereniceto take Hajee [Haji] Ahmed, Residency Arabic Mirza (interpreter), to Bahrain in order for him to compile reports on the area for Pelly, and regarding Pelly's return from Riyadh to Bahrain.The file contains an original file label, in Lewis Pelly's handwriting, titled 'Riadh'.Physical description: Foliation: The contents of the file have been foliated in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio using a pencil number enclosed in a circle. The file has been refoliated and the numbers no longer in use have been crossed through.
Abstract: Official correspondence between Lewis Pelly and the Secretary to Government in the Political Department Bombay, some of which is in draft form regarding reports by Lewis Pelly on his trip to Riyadh, and his opinions on the ongoing dispute between the Sultans of Muscat and the Wahhabi.The correspondence from Lewis Pelly gives accounts of the journey to Riyadh; the challenges of collecting specimens and readings owing to the constant supervision of their travelling companions; and his opinions on both the differences between the Sultans of Muscat and the Wahhabi and the ongoing dispute between the two peoples.The correspondence from the Government of Bombay comprises requests for information, both on the Muscat-Wahhabi dispute, and also forwarding requests from the Government of India for a full account of Pelly's time in Riyadh which had been requested from him but had not been received.Physical description: Foliation: The contents of the file have been foliated in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio with a pencil number enclosed in a circle. Some of the folios contain a previous foliation sequence, identical to the one in use except that the circled numbers have been crossed through.
Abstract: The journal contains entries for each day of Lewis Pelly's journey and records the exact distances travelled each day and the amount of time required to cover the distance. Where possible longitudes and latitudes have been recorded using the North Star and Rigil to determine them along with the altitude at various points.Pelly gives detailed descriptions of everywhere he travels through on his journey including the names of villages, towns, plains, hills and sand ranges, locations of wells, numbers of huts and residences, the landscape and geography of the Nejd [Najd] country with pencil sketches to accompany (folios 3,4,14 and 16) and where the river beds occur and which directions these landmarks run in. There are also accounts of the caravans and other travellers encountered including an account of a group of women who wished to buy the metal buttons and silk handkerchiefs of Mr Lucas, the interpreter and when he declined to sell them they cut the buttons off and pickpocketed the handkerchiefs.Folio 4a describes some of the specimens of wild flowers being collected along with some of the edible plants that the Bedouins make use of. Folio 6 documents the tribal structure of the Nejd and includes accounts of customs and traditions as well as the tributes paid to the Amir. Folio 10 explains the laws of inheritance in the country, the rules that men are governed by with regard to the number of wives they have and the fact that concubines are not permitted, the censuses that have been undertaken and the fact that women and children are not counted.On arrival at Riadh [Riyadh] Pelly describes his accommodation, the Amir's confidential secretary and meetings with him, the Nejd tribes disdain and dislike of Captain Jones, the former political resident whom they viewed as having done injury against them. On meeting with Amir Faisal ibn Torky [Faisal ibn Turki], the Imam, Pelly describes his age and physical features as well as his apparent character and nature before detailing their conversation which discussed Pelly's reasons for being there, the Amir's account of his own territory and the distinctions he draws between religious and political warfare. Also discussed are his attitudes and opinions on the situation with Muscat and his view that it is a tributary of the Nejd.Further entries in the journal describe a private meeting with the Imam in which the telegraph lines being extended throughout the Gulf are discussed along with the Imam's experiences of establishing a postal line between Egypt and Nejd and the British Government's policy with regards to the East. There is also a detailed conversation about Nejd horses focusing in particular on the different colourings and varieties that exist. There are also references to slave cruising: however, they are contained within a portion of the journal which is difficult to decipher as the pencil has faded badly.Further conversations recorded in the journal with the private secretary of the Imam revolve around the Amir's attempts to secure a treaty to permit the Oman Arabs at Soor [Sur] to be exempt from punishments for piracy and in return the British would receive a guarantee of protection for telegraphic communications. The journal also records the journey back to Koweit [Kuwait], for which many of the entries are similar to those of the journey to Riyadh. Additional references which are recorded include the fact that Lieutenant Dawes had sketched the Imam and Riyadh at Pelly's request, some notes about the traditions of the Selaibee tribe and the significance of their coats as part of their coming of age rituals, and references to the climate, temperature and quality of air.Physical description: Foliation: This file has been foliated in the front top right hand corner of each page with a pencil number enclosed in a circle.Condition: Folio 25 appears to have come away from the booklet resulting in some missing pieces of text in the first paragraph. Folio 26: the pencil writing has faded badly making some passages illegible.
Abstract: The file contains memorandums, draft reports, notes and sketches made by Lewis Pelly during his visit to Kuwait and journey to Riyadh January to March 1865.These papers include a history of the Shatt al-Arab watercourse; the history of the Sebaih tribe of Qatif; notes relating to questions of sun and fire worship; a description of the coastline from al-Qatif to Kuwait and onward journey to Riyadh; notes on Muhammad ibn Sa'ud and Faisal ibn Turki al-Sa'ud; and notes on trade between Kuwait and inland Nejd [Najd]. Some of the contents of these papers were used in the reports Lewis Pelly submitted to the Government of Bombay on his journey.Two cover notes (folios 1 and 1A) are also included in the file and relate to reports written by Lewis Pelly, copies of which can be found in the Political Department Library - only one report is named, Pelly's Riadh [Ryiadh] report. The two notes are dated 14 July 1927.Physical description: Foliation: The contents of the file have been foliated using a pencil number, enclosed in a circle, located in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. A small number of the folios have been renumbered, with the numbers formerly in use crossed through.Foliation anomaly: 1, 1AThe following folio needs to be folded out to be read: 77