Abstract: A copy of a letter from Francis Warden, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay [Mumbai], to Major-General William Grant Keir, Commander of the 1819 expedition to the Persian Gulf, sent from Bombay and dated 27 November 1819. The letter contains instructions for the handover of power in Ras-el-Khyma [Ra’s al-Khaymah] in the event of its fall to British forces.The letter was enclosed in the letter of Henry Willock, HM Chargé d'Affaires in Persia [Iran], to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company dated 6 July 1820 (IOR/L/PS/9/69/26 and 29).Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
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
Abstract: The recto of folio 75 and the verso of folio 76 contain rough geographical pencil sketches. The first shows a particular area of Nejd [Najd] in relation to key villages and towns; the second appears to show a valley, or other similar geographic feature, with place names and travelling directions also given.The recto of folio 76 contains a brief list of five placenames in Nejd, given in both English and Arabic.The sketches are undated, however the information contained within them would have been compiled by Lewis Pelly during his trip to Riyadh in February to March 1865Physical description: 2 folios
Abstract: Extended version of the draft letter at folios one to twelve regarding Pelly's visit to Riyath [Riyadh] to meet with the Wahabee Ameer [Wahhabi Amir] (Faisal ibn Turki Al Sa'ud), with annotations and corrections.The letter refers to a sketch map of the route taken from Kowait [Kuwait] to Riyath, along with an itinerary, both of which were to be appended to the final official version of the letter to illustrate the topography of the area.The letter goes on to explain in detail his party's limited ability to collect specimens owing to the need to avoid attracting attention to their actions; his having appended extracts of his private journal rather than occupy Government's time with descriptions of the country they traversed; and the inability to take observations during daytime owing to their constant supervision by their travelling companions.Also included in the extended version of the letter are a description of the lodgings in Riyath; the challenges they faced in taking readings there and general observations on chronometer readings.Folios sixteen to eighteen are blank.Physical description: 6 folios
Abstract: Pencil draft of a letter most likely to the Secretary to Government, Political Department, Bombay regarding Pelly's recent visit to the Wahabee Ameer [Wahhabi Amir] in his capital Riyath [Riyadh] and appending a sketch map of the route taken from Kowait [Kuwait].The letter goes on to describe the sketch map and features shown on it including principal towns, characteristics of the countryside and the work he undertook in determining fixed points of longitude and latitude en route.Also referred to in the letter is the work undertaken to collect specimens of the rocks and flora and the use of solar observation and the polar star to determine additional longitude and latitudes.Folios two to twelve are blank.Physical description: 12 folios
Abstract: Draft notes, written in faint pencil, giving sections and headings for Lewis Pelly's report on his journey to Riadh [Riyadh].The notes contain details of comments and observations required for a sketch map of the route taken and make reference to the need to take notes on the country travelled through and the peoples and tribes encountered and told about en-route.The notes themselves conclude on folio 45, and the remaining folios are blank.Physical description: 6 folios
Abstract: The file contains three separate statements regarding William Gifford Palgrave's travels throughout Arabia, all relating to the disguises and aliases that Palgrave used to travel and his willingness to assume the religion of whichever place he was travelling through.The first statement is a translation of an account by Aboo Eesa, the guide who took Palgrave to Riyadh, of how he came to encounter Palgrave, their journey to Riyadh and time spent there and their further travels on to Katif and Bushire. The statement also contains details of their aliases and disguises and includes postscripts to the original statement regarding a paper which Palgrave gave to Eesa regarding a scheme to 'revolutionize the country and institute another religion among the Wahabis (ff 1-5)The second statement was written by Mr Rozario, the Medical Charge at the Muscat Political Agency who encountered Palgrave in Muscat in 1863 and provided him with assistance as he was living as a mussulman but was having difficulty in observing the fasting period owing to suffering from fever and was permitted to use Mr Rozario's home in order to partake of food and wine. Mr Rozario's statement is dated 25 April 1866 (ff 6-7)The final statement is a letter from Eusuf ben Bedr written in Arabic, 18 December 1865, and translated into English regarding his conversation with the individual who took Palgrave to Riyadh (Aboo Eesa). The statement within the letter is a shorter version of Aboo Eesa's first statement (ff 6-7) and was received at the Residency in Bushire 25 January 1866Physical description: Foliation: The file has been foliated in the front top right corner of each folio with a pencil number enclosed in a circle.The file also has original foliation consisting of large pencil numbers in the top right corner of each folio. This foliation sequence runs from 189-195 and only covers the first 7 folios of the file.
Abstract: Correspondence and other papers concerning the invasion of the Hedjaz [Hejaz] by Wahabi [Wahhabi] forces associated with the Sultan of Najd, Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], and the subsequent abdication of the King of Hedjaz, Amir Hussein [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī]. The volume contains: reports of the capture of the city of Taif [Ta’if] by Wahabi forces; the British Government’s efforts to ascertain the fate of British Indian Muslims in Taif; correspondence amongst British Government officials about the contents of a message to be sent to Ibn Saud in response to the capture of Taif; correspondence between British Government officials and the Hashemite representative in London, Dr Naji el Assil [Naji al-Asil], regarding the British Government’s decision to pursue a policy of non-intervention in response to events; the abdication of Amir Hussein, and his departure from Mecca via Jeddah and Akaba [Aqaba]; the succession of Amir Ali [‘Alī ibn al-Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] as King of Hedjaz; Amir Ali’s retreat to Jeddah and reports of Wahabi forces in Mecca; Amir Ali’s attempt to procure loans for troops and war materials; reports of events at Taif and Jeddah, as reported by the British Consul at Jeddah, Reader William Bullard (ff 160-162, ff 83-84, f 46).The volume’s principal correspondents are: the British Consul at Jeddah; the Foreign Office; the Secretary of State for the Colonies, James Henry Thomas; the British High Commissioner of Iraq, Henry Robert Conway Dobbs; the British High Commissioner of Palestine, Herbert Louis Samuel; Naji el Assil.The volume contains a single item in French: a draft of a letter addressed to the Wahabi leader, drawn up by the consular corps in Jeddah (f 131).The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence (f 2).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 419; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
Abstract: A copy of a letter from Brigadier-General John Malcolm to Captain Charles Pasley, sent from Bombay [Mumbai] and dated 29 December 1808, concerning the planned occupation of Karrack [Khārg] island as part of a new defence strategy in the region. The letter requests that Pasley prepare to join Malcolm on Kharrack; gather information regarding the size of the Persian [Iranian] garrison on Kharrack and the possibility of its commander defecting to Britain; inform Claudius Rich, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], of the new policy and seek his opinion; establish contact with and collect information on the Wahabees [Wahhabis]; and make arrangements for supplying troops on Kharrack.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: A copy of a letter from Lord Minto, Governor-General of Bengal, to Sir Harford Jones, British Envoy Extraordinary to Persia [Iran], sent from Fort William and dated 31 October 1808. The letter: reprimands Jones for leaving for Persia without communicating with Minto; outlines the political situation in Persia, in particular the ascendant French influence in the country and prospects for Anglo-Persian relations; describes a new defence strategy against France in the region, including the establishment of a presence on Kharrack [Khārg], support of independence for Baghdad in the event of the Ottoman Empire falling into the French orbit, and planned overtures to the Wahabees [Wahhabis]; and exhorts Jones to return from Persia.Physical description: 1 item (12 folios)