Abstract: The statement gives the following information for each tribe listed:Name of the tribeName of its ChiefIts place of headquartersNumber of subdivisionsPopulationAmount of tribute paid to Amir Faisul ibn Turki al-Sa'udNumber of horses procurable by each tribeRemarksThe remarks relate to the expectation that the Chief of each tribe would each year give horses to Amir Faisul. The amount of horses is determined by the number of Jama (subdivisions) the tribe had; in return the chief would receive clothes, weapons and dates from the Amir. A further remark notes that those tribes who pay no tribute are expected to protect the Nejd [Najd] frontiers and to go on any expeditions that the Amir wishes them to.Physical description: The folio has to be folded out in order to be read.
Abstract: The statements were originally intended to form Appendix 12 of Colonel Pelly's Riyadh report No.57 dated 15 May 1866 and were produced following a request from the British Government for Pelly to go through William Gifford Palgrave's book and verify the truth, or otherwise, of accusations, assertions and claims made by Palgrave about the places he visited and people he met.The principal statements that Pelly addressed were as follows:That the native agent at Shargah [Sharjah], an Armenian named Hajee Yacoob, was encouraging the slave trade whilst operating as a representative of the British Government. This claim was refuted by Pelly firstly as Hajee Yacoob was a musselman, secondly as he had recovered more slaves than 'any other man in the Gulf' and thirdly as succesive residents considered him to be a most energetic and reliable man who was not as Palgrave supposed responsible for the suppression of slavery in Shargeh but was in fact the arbitrator of the maritime truce there.That Palgrave and his companion had travelled openly as Christians and been welcomed as such. Whereas Pelly had witness testimonies, including from his agent at Muscat, that Palgrave had disguised himself as a mussulman and used assumed names in order to travel and had even been seen worshipping in mosques.Claims as to the extent of the territories of Oman, that Bahrein and Qatar (amongst other places) paid tribute to Oman, that Said Saeed [Thuwaini bin Said] divided his territories up between his three sons in his will, alleged tensions between these sons and claims relating to Said Soulem [Salim II bin Thuwaini], son of Said Saeed, being a young boy. Several of these claims such as the extent of Oman's territories and the way in which they were divided up following Said Saeed's death were refuted through treaties and agreements that already existed such as Lord Canning's of 1861 which separated Muscat and Zanzibar, and a loan agreement of 1856 in which Persia agreed to lease some places to Oman. The remaining claims were refuted by Pelly's personal and detailed knowledge of Muscat and through Said Torki [Turki bin Said],son of Said Saeed who was a guest of Pelly's in Bushire at the time of his writing the responses to the statements, including that Said Soulem was actually a grown man, not a young boy, and had recently been accused of murdering his father,Also included in the file are a draft version of the statements and a copy of the witness statement of Mr Rozario, agent at Muscat, regarding Mr Palgrave passing himself off there as a mussulman called Aboo Mahmood and that he had observed him attending mosques and outwardly observing the fast.Physical description: Foliation: The file has been foliated in the front top right corner of each folio with a pencil number enclosed in a circle.
Abstract: Handwritten report, in Lewis Pelly's handwriting about the history of the Shat el Arab [Shatt al Arab] watercourse from the point where it commences at the uniting of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers through to where it flows into the Persian Gulf.The reports goes on to describe the agriculture along the watercourse; the deserts beyond; and information about Basrah [Basra] including architectural descriptions and the ruined city of Zobeir [Zubayr].The report also includes accounts of attacks on the area by nomadic Bedouins who travel the area in winter searching for pastures; the development of a settlement, trade and a Government at Khote [Kuwait], including a description of Pelly's visit there en-route to Riadh [Riyadh]; and giving detailed descriptions of the Sheikh, conversations about Pelly's proposed trip and details of the hospitality Pelly received there.The report concludes by recounting a story told by Sheikh Sabba [Sabah II bin Jabir Al-Sabah] of two slave girls and their families' efforts to find and be reunited with them.The report itself is undated, but would have been written sometime after Lewis Pelly's trip to Riyadh which took place February to March 1865.Physical description: 40 folios
Abstract: Two draft copies of a report written by Lewis Pelly of the coastline from Al Katif [Al Qatif] to Koweit [Kuwait] and his journey onwards from there to Riyath [Riyath]. The report contains names and descriptions of key geographic areas and features travelled through en-route.The contents of this draft report were included as part of Lewis Pelly's full report on his journey to Riyadh to meet with Amir Faysul [Faisal ibn Turki al-Sa'ud].Both draft copies contain crossings out and corrections.Physical description: 7 folios
Abstract: Incomplete memorandum, written in pencil, regarding the tribute that Amir Faisaul ibn Turki al Sa'ud of the Wahabees [Wahhabi] pays to the Porte and the revenues he receives both in terms of money and horses as well as in military aid.The memorandum also refers to agreements with other tribes who can travel unmolested through Nejd [Najd] territory.The verso of folio 74 contains the first line of a memorandum regarding writing to someone.The memorandum itself is undated, however the information contained within it would have been acquired by Lewis Pelly during his visit to Riyadh, February to March 1865.Physical description: 2 folios
Abstract: The correspondence relates to three main periods of Lewis Pelly's life: his work in India as Agent to the Governor-General, Rajpootana [Rājasthān] and subsequently at Baroda 1870-1877; his return to England in 1877 and marriage to Amy Henrietta Lowder, 1 August 1878; and his desire for re-employment with the India Office 1878-1883.The 1870-1877 correspondence is primarily from the Viceroy of India (Thomas George Baring, 2nd Baron Northbrook to April 1876; Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Baron Lytton from April 1876); the Viceroy's private secretary; and Maharajas, local chiefs and colleagues in Rajpootana. Subjects discussed include the deposition of the Gaekwar of Baroda; the Indian frontier and policy towards it; and Pelly's ailing health which eventually forces him to return to England in 1875.Pelly subsequently returns to India, accompanying Lord Lytton on a negotiating mission with the Amir of Afghanistan, and the correspondence from this period consists primarily of instructions to Pelly in regard to the negotiations.Other correspondents include journalists for the
Pall Mall Gazette,
Daily Telegraph, and
Manchester Guardianas Pelly had numerous letters and articles published in newspapers following his return to England in 1877; correspondence with George Christopher Molesworth Birdwood on both Indian affairs and publishing matters; and correspondence with Lord Lytton, the Marquess of Salisbury (Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury) and Lord Derby (Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby) 1878-1883 in which he attempts to secure employment either in India or with the India Office in London.Physical description: Foliation: The contents of the file have been foliated using an encircled pencil number in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio. Some of the correspondence has been renumbered and the numbers no longer in use have been crossed through.
Abstract: Letter requesting that Lewis Pelly submit a detailed account of all he saw, heard and did in the course of his visit to Riadh [Riyadh] for the Governor-General in Council as requested as it had not yet been received.Physical description: 2 folios
Abstract: Letter forwarding some correspondence between the Political Agent, Muscat and the Sultan of Muscat (Thuwaini bin Said Al-Said) for Pelly's information and requesting a report from him on his opinion of the differences between the Sultans of Muscat and the Wahabees [Wahhabi] (Faisal ibn Turki al Sa'ud).The letter also informs Pelly that he may offer to act as a mediator between the two parties but that he should make it clear to the Sultan of Muscat that the British Government has no intention of interfering in the matter.The letter also contains a note by Lewis Pelly dated 9 January 1865.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Printed memorandum 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.Physical description: 2 folios
Abstract: Letter asking if Pelly might consider permitting him to join the expedition and offering his drawing and sketching abilities as a service for it.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Letter providing Pelly with detailed information on how the Chronometer was prepared for the journey to Riyadh and how it was only six and a half miles out from their exact location at the end of the journey, and observing how wonderfully small the margin was considering the rough nature of its travels.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Letter accepting Dawes's offer, on the condition of Captain Warner granting permission for Dawes to accompany him and informing him what equipment he would need to bring and when he would need to be ready to leave.Physical description: 1 folio