Rare edition of the Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, with numerous articles on the Gulf region

[Arabian Gulf]. Pelly, Lewis, et al. The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. [...]. Volume XVII.

€ 95.000,00

Rare first edition of the 17th volume of the "Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society", containing several valuable accounts of the Gulf region, many of which are written by the legendary British political agent Lewis Pelly (1825-92).

These include his much-sought "Remarks on the Tribes, Trade, and Resources Around the Shore Line of the Persian Gulf" (pp. 32-112; separately reprinted in 1874), with details on the "Territories held by those independent Maritime Arab Chiefs formerly the pirates of the Gulf, now partially commercial, and bound by the terms of a permanent truce to keep the peace at sea; the English Resident in the Gulf being mediator and quasi-guarantee for the observation of this truce by all the subscribing Chiefs, more especially during the season of diving on the Pearl Banks", enumerating them as "Shaam and Kuleela; Ramse, Ras-al-Khyma; Jazirath-ul-Hamra; Amulgavine; Ejmaun; Heira; Shargah and Fasht; Khan; Debaye and Aboothabee". The accompanying map shows the "seven classes of jurisdictions enumerated" in the report, with the northern coastline forming a single jurisdiction from El Katif to the tip of the Musandam Peninsula.

Further relevant contributions include:

L. Pelly, Recent Tour Round the Northern Portion of the Persian Gulf (pp. 113-140, with a map of the northern Gulf from Bushehr to Kuwait).

L. Pelly, Remarks on a Recent Journey from Bushire to Shirauz (pp. 141-174, with 2 maps).

L. Pelly, A Brief Account of the Province of Fars (pp. 175-185).

H. W. Warner, Report on the Bay and Fort of Shewoo on the Shore of the Persian Gulf (pp. 186-190).

A. W. Stiffe, Report on the Line of Telegraph from Ras Jashk to Basrah (pp. 208-225).

L. Pelly, Remarks on the Port of Lingah, the Island of Kishm, and the Port of Bunder Abbass, and its Neighbourhood (pp. 237-255, with a map of Qeshm Island).

R. L. Playfair, Report on the Result of the Observations and Enquiries Made During a Tour in the Various Countries around Zanzibar, Especially Those More or Less Connected With the Slave Trade (pp. 256-268, with a map).

The first 130 pages comprise the "Proceedings" of the Society; the remainder of the volume contains the articles submitted by the members, which further deal with additional subjects of research, mainly in India.

Binding a little rubbed, but generally in excellent condition. Presentation copy, handsomely bound for D. J. Kennelly, secretary of the Bombay Geographical Society, with lithographed presentation bookplate to front pastedown, dated 1866.