'Manuscript Journals.'

Title:

'Manuscript Journals.'

Date:

1812/1825

Description:

This volume is Volume I (of two) of the manuscript travel journals of John Bax. The volume describes Bax's voyage from England to Bombay in 1812; travels in India in 1815-17; voyage and journey to Rusool Khyma [Ra's al-Khaymah] in Arabia, to Bushire in Persia, and through Shiraz, Isfahan, Kermansha [Kermanshah], and Bagdad [Baghdad] to Bussorah [Basra] in 1819-20; further voyage and journey to parts of India in 1821-22; voyage and journey from India to England via Egypt and several European countries in 1822-23; tours in England, Scotland and Wales, 1823-24; and journey from England to India via France, Germany, Hungary, Constantinople, Baghdad, Bussora [Basra], Bushire and the Persian Gulf in 1824-25.The volume includes regular entries recording positions of longitude and latitude; thermometer readings and climatic information; and tables of distances.The journal records Bax's involvement as an observer in the expedition under the command of Major-General Sir William Grant Kerr 'to suppress the Joasmee [Āl Qawāsim] Pirates' at Ra's al-Khaymah in 1819. Bax briefly describes the landing of Kerr's force, preliminary exchanges, the numbers of casualties on both sides, and the entry of Kerr's troops into the fort and town, which they found deserted (folios 18-19).From Ra's al-Khaymah Bax sailed to Bushire, and from there travelled into the interior of Persia, passing through Shiraz (where he discussed the action at Ra's al-Khaymah, the accounts of which were 'highly exaggerated', folio 23v), Isfahan, and Kermanshah. The journey included a visit to the ruins of Persepolis (folios 27-28). Bax then travelled to Baghdad and Basra, visited the ruins of Ctesiphon (folio 58), and returned by sea to Bombay via Bushire and Muscat (folios 64-65).1 volume (280 folios)The volume includes a table of contents on folio 9.Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover of volume one (ff 1-282) and terminates at the inside back cover of volume two (ff 283-515); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 285-503; these numbers are also written in pencil and circled.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.Pagination: the file also contains an original handwritten pagination sequence.

Language:

English

Type:

Journal

Type (Narrower):

Serials

Type (Broader):

Text

Geographic region:

Rusool Khyma
Persian Gulf
Shiraz

Extent:

1 volume (280 folios)

Rights:

Open Government Licence

Identifier:

81055/vdc_100044534949.0x000001_ar
81055/vdc_100044534949.0x000001_en
Mss Eur F377/1

Is part of:

British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers

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