Notes by Lewis Pelly on ceremonies of sun and fire worship
Scope & Content:
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 5...
Report describing the coastline from Al Katif [Al Qatif] to Koweit [Kuwait] and inland to Riyadh
Scope & Content:
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 thi...
Memorandum about Mohammed ibn Saood [Muhammad ibn Sa'ud]
Scope & Content:
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 successo...
Part of memorandum about Amir Faisul ibn Turki al Sa'ud of the Wahabees [Wahhabi]
Scope & Content:
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 ...
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...
Notes on the statements made in William Gifford Palgrave's book Narrative of a Year's Journey through Central and Eastern Arabia
Scope & Content:
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, asser...
Summaries of statements by various individuals concerning William Gifford Palgrave's travels throughout Arabia
Scope & Content:
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 tra...
Copies of correspondence concerning the conduct of Dr William Henry Colvill, the Residency Surgeon, during the expedition to Riadh [Riyadh] and after
Scope & Content:
Political Department Reports regarding Pelly's concerns over the conduct of Assistant Surgeon Dr William Henry Colvill. Colvill is accused of having assumed unauthorised responsibility for Pelly's duties during his absence in England and for giving secret and personal information to the Royal G...
Copy of letter No.57 of 1865 from Pelly to Charles Gonne, Secretary to Government, Bombay
Scope & Content:
Correspondence regarding accusations that Dr Colvill assumed Pelly's duties and pursued lines of policy without Pelly's permission to do so, and corresponded with government under these assumptions without producing proof of his right to do so. The letter gives details of Pelly's previous exper...
Letter No.58 of 1865 from Pelly to Charles Gonne, Secretary to Government, Bombay
Scope & Content:
Copy of a letter regarding Pelly's expedition to Riyadh for which all correspondence and communications were for the secret department only, and his apprehensions about Dr Colvill accompanying him on the expedition. The letter goes on to give details of a journal and other correspondence which ...
