An early and valuable study of the pearl fisheries along the Arabian Coast by the British political officer Lewis Pelly (1825-92). The article covers the locations of the most fruitful beds at Bahrain, right of access, approximate number of boats (plus their ownership and division of profits), and annual yield. A vivid paragraph describes the divers, detailing their attire, including "horned-pincers" (p. 34) for the nose, and technique. Of particular interest is a brief note on the market for the pearls: a large number of white pearls are sent to Baghdad, while the "great bulk of the best pearls is sent to the Bombay market, where, during the late share mania, fancy prices were given for good pearls" (p. 34).
Pelly served as British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (1862-72) and had noticed how the conchology of that sea had gone somewhat unstudied by Westerners. Recognising the opportunity to make a contribution, he began to make notes on the subject, culminating in this short but highly informative text.
This rich and wide-ranging volume of the Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, in its first edition, is chiefly focused on the Ottoman Middle East and the Gulf region. It further contains essays on the Makran Coast, Red Sea littorals, and an overland journey from Baghdad to Istanbul. Though several institutions hold runs of the Transactions, even individual volumes are scarce in commerce. We cannot find any examples of this volume in auction records or bookseller catalogues.
The edges of the boards are slightly scuffed, a few small areas of loss to the head and foot of the spine, the hinges are split, but the structural integrity of the binding is still intact. Otherwise in good condition. The interior and maps are very clean and fresh. Macro 1750.