Shakespear, William Henry Irvine: diary of journey across central Arabia

Content

A diary written by Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear recording his journey across Arabia in 1914.

The volume consists of:

• folios 2-14: 'Accounts of Journey into Central Arabia. February, March, April, May 1914': statements of expenses incurred on the journey;
• folio 19: a note of the altitude of three locations, with source (Leachman, Carruthers);
• folios 20-277: 'Journal of Trip via Central Arabia to Egypt': diary of the journey (entries dated 3 February - 25 May 1914);
• folios 286-297: 'Tribal wasms': list of wasms [distinguishing brand marks applied to camels], giving a drawing of the wasm, and details of the place of applying, tribe and sub-tribe;
• folios 300-307: 'List of photos' (numbered 1-61, giving date and subject) [note that this is a list only; there are no photographs present in the volume];
• folio 316: note, giving statistical information concerning the route.

The volume includes diary entries for most days. The entries include a description of each day's journey, regular observations (thermometer, aneroid, boiling point, and watches), remarks on the weather, topographical details, information on Shakespear's personal health, and references to photographs taken by him along the route.

Extent and format

1 volume (328 folios)

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 330; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Three additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 23-277, ff 287-297, and ff 300-303; these numbers are written in ink, and are not circled.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

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.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

Mss Eur A230

History of this record

Date(s)

1914 (CE, Gregorian)

Context of creation

Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear (1878-1915), Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kuwait 1909-14. Shakespear made the longest of his journeys into the interior of Arabia between January and May 1914, from Kuwait to the Suez Canal via Riyadh, Burayda and Jauf, a distance of just over 1800 miles in 111 days, across what was mostly uncharted territory.

Immediate source of acquisition

Deposited on loan by Dr O S Pound, 2 July 2001.

Subjects

TravelDiariesCamels

Places

Arabian PeninsulaKuwait

People & organisations

William Henry Irvine Shakespear

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Cite this record in your research

Shakespear, William Henry Irvine: diary of journey across central Arabia, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur A230, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000063.0x0003ba> [accessed 25 April 2024]

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