By Emad Al-Hamily
KUWAIT, Nov 18 (KUNA) -- Basem Alloughani, a Kuwaiti researcher, has unveiled a rare British document addressing an era of Kuwait's history when a British official accompanied by a group paid a visit to Kuwait in the second half of the 19th century, divulging historical information published for the first time.
Alloughani told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) today that he had become acquainted with the document for the first time several weeks ago in the annals of British India preserved in the British Library in London during his search for documents there.
He stated that the document contains a diary written by Al-Haji Ahmed Al-Manshi, an employee of the British Resident in the Iranian city of Bushehr dating back to 1863 two years before the famous mission of the British resident in that city at the time Sir Lewis Pelly to Kuwait and then to Najd.
He added that Pelly's trip, which also took him to Basra, Fallahiyah and Mohammarah started between 24 February to 21 March 1863. It was described thoroughly by Al-Manshi in 13 pages, in addition to an economic report on the four key areas visited.
The diary of Pelly also spoke about the presence of numerous famous Kuwait, Arab and foreign names including traders Sheikh Mohammed bin Rizq, Yusuf bin Badr and his sons, Ibrahim bin Salem and Musa bin Jouaan and others.
Alloughani also revealed that the document also contained new information over presence of a castle or mansion in the village of Al-Jahra characterized by its towers, in addition to an unoccupied Palace in Safwan at the time as well as information on the existence of a horse stud belonging to Yusuf bin Badr in Jahra, besides authentication of some ancient divers Salem Al-Holi and Abdullah Al-Mutairi.
The Kuwaiti researcher added that the diaries of Al-Manshi were written in Arabic and English.
He pointed out that Pelly was the first English to reach the heart of Najd for a political mission, where he had met Imam Turki bin Faisal Al Saud in 1865 after his first trip to Kuwait in 1863.
He said that Pelly had written diaries of the 1865 expedition in English and were later translated into Arabic several times.
He pointed out that the trips made by the ancient Arab and foreign travelers to Kuwait and neighboring areas were one of the most important sources documenting the events experienced by the region and provide many details about the Gulf and Arab communities in those periods. (end) eh.tg