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Draft fair copy of a journal of Lewis Pelly's official journey overland from Persia to India through Afghanistan including Mashhad, Herat and Kabul. [‎134r] (533/680)

The record is made up of 1 file (340 folios). It was created in 10 Sep 1860-16 Nov 1860. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Content

First draft of a fair copy of Lewis Pelly's journal of his journey through Afghanistan. The draft contains crossings out, spelling corrections and other alterations to the main text as well as comments in the left hand margin ranging from notes regarding the individuals who travelled with him, personal observations on situations he encountered to comments on the quality of house building in the region. At the top of the first folio is a quote taken from William Shakespeare's play Henry VIII.

Journal of the journey which the British Government requested that Lewis Pelly take overland through Persia and Afghanistan in returning to India in order to ascertain the situation throughout the country, to visit the rulers of key places such as Herat and Cabul [Kabul] with a view to the re-establishment of British relations with them, to attempt to gain a sense of how the british might now be received there and to attempt to ascertain details of the Persian expedition to Mero [Marv].

The journal covers the period 10 September to 16 November 1860 and documents the geography and landscapes of the regions travelled through, with where known the names of hills and plateaus, the locations of water sources and the distances between each place visited and the overall distances travelled each day.

For each village, town or caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). visited Pelly recorded its size, any known history, information on the local ruler and his allegiances, observations on trade and agriculture, with particular interest paid to gardens and orchards, and the hospitality they offered to him at each stage of his journey.

The journal also records the people who travelled with him, the equipment and provisions they took with them and the gifts and letters they had been requested to take and present to various local rulers.

Information of particular interest within the journal includes details of the situation in Candahar [Kandahar] and Cabul, his conversations with the Khan of Khaff [Khaf] about England, his visit to Herat and discussions with the ministers and ruler there, information on the Turcoman's victory over the Persians at Mero including Pelly's intentions of aiding the Prince Hurnza Mirza [Hamzeh Mirza "Heshmat ed-Dowleh"] and desire to rescue a French photographer who had been travelling with the Persian forces, the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. of Sebpur's plans to seize power in Candahar, a meeting with some Russians travelling in the area, and the civil war in Seistan [Sistan], information on the official reports that Pelly submitted to Government during his journey and an ink sketch by Pelly of a post house similar to the ones he stayed in during his journey.

The original journal as written by Lewis Pelly can be found at F126/30 and the final draft fair copy of the journal can be found at F126/31

Extent and format
1 file (340 folios)
Arrangement

The journal entries have been arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The original foliation consists of numbers in blue ink written in the top left corner of the front of each 2 folio booklet, giving folio numbers for every second folio. Folio numbers 5 and 47 have been omitted completely. several folios which had been omitted have since been numbered as 114a, 114b and 171a. Folios 145-150 have all been combined into a single two folio booklet, with the numbers given in a list in the left hand margin on the front folio of the booklet.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Draft fair copy of a journal of Lewis Pelly's official journey overland from Persia to India through Afghanistan including Mashhad, Herat and Kabul. [‎134r] (533/680), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/32, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023512635.0x000086> [accessed 18 May 2024]

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