Travels of James Rich in Kurdistan and Mesopotamia, 1237, 1822
Scope and Contents
A travelogue written for the British traveler, Claudius James Rich (1787-1821), by Sayyid Muḥammad b. Aḥmad al-Ḥasanī al-Munshī al-Baghdādī.
The journey described was made in 1235/1820, beginning in Baghdad after Rich was forced to leave the city by the Ottoman governor Davud Pasha. It mostly occurs in western Iran and Kurdistan, including Kermanshah, Sanandaj (Sana), Mosul, Karkuk and Erbel, and then gives more succinct information about Mesopotamia, ending in Basra.
The work has ten chapters, listed on folio 2a. The text begins: جامع این اخبار سید محمد بن احمد الحسنی المنشی البغدادی چندین سال در بغداد مشغول مدماة رزیدنت انگلیس بوده تا انکه از بغداد در سال یکهزار و دوصد و سی و پنج هجری مطابق سال یکهزار و هشتصد و بیست مسیحی بهمراه عالیجاه کلادیوس جمس ریچ رزیدنت بغداد بجهة تغییر آب و هوا بسیر و گشت کردستان و شهرزور و سنه و سقّز و کرکوک و کپری و اربل و موصل و اطراف اینها از بناهای کهنه و عجایب .قدیمه رفته سیر نموده آنچه بدیده خود دید و بگفتن کسان نه پرداخت
The text finishes abruptly on folio 29b: بصره حاکم آنجا را متسلم گویند تمت الرساله
The present copy, made only two years after the journey described in the work, is dedicated to Mountstuart Elphinstone (1789-1859 C.E.)
Flysheet 4b bears a note in English.
Dates
- Creation: 1237
- Creation: 1822
Creator
- b. Aḥmad al-Ḥasanī al-Munshī al-Baghdādī, Sayyid Muḥammad (Author, Person)
Language of Materials
Persian (Script: nasta'līq)
Conditions Governing Access
Open. Please contact the repository in advance.
Full Extent
1 volume
Custodial History
This manuscript is likely to have belonged to Mountstuart Elphinstone (1779-1859), and was part of Carberry Tower Library
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased (via Rankine) at Dowell's sale of the Carberry Tower Library, 20-21 July 1961, lot 280 (23 volumes, £52).
Physical Description
30 folios. Five flyleaves.
Source
- Elphinstone, Mountstuart, 1779-1859 (Scottish statesman and historian) (Former owner, Person)
Genre / Form
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk