a very detailed description of pearl fishing and trade in bahrein
PARSONS, Abraham. Travels in Asia and Africa; Including a Journey from Scanderoon to Aleppo, and Over the Desert to Bagdad and Bussora; a Voyage from Bussora to Bombay, and Along the Western Coast of India; a Voyage from Bombay to Mocha and Suez in the Red Sea; and a Journey from Suez to Cairo and Rosetta, in Egypt. London, Longman, 1808.
4to. Library buckram of 1939, spine lettered and numbered in gilt; pp. vi, 346, two tinted aquatint plates; light toning to interior and occasional spotting, one plate with marginal repair; a good copy of a very rare title; withdrawn from Manchester Central Library some time ago (bookplate, blind-stamps).
First edition of an important and early source on the Gulf and other Eastern Regions. Abraham Parsons was appointed, by the Turkey Company, as their consul at Iskenderun, after which he made various journeys in Asia Minor, including a desert route trip to Baghdad where he stayed for six months. He died at Livorno in 1785 whilst returning via India and Egypt. This detailed journal, published posthumously, includes accounts of the merchants and commerce of the places he visited, including Bahrein, Muscat, (including pearl fishing in Bahrain, 'the greatest and and most valuable pearl fishery in the known world' - p. 202), Mocha and Jeddah, mentioning the importance of the latter as the port for Mecca. Whilst in Cairo Parsons witnessed the grand procession of pilgrims bound for Mekkah which he recounts in great detail. 'Parsons provided details of the trade at Iskenderun, of the town and its surroundings, and of the journeys he made in the area. He attentively observed other towns and cities and the routes between them. Of his time at Aleppo he wrote that he had 'little else to do but walk about and make observations', and thus saw more than others who lived there many years. As a consul he was interested in and described the lifestyle of other consuls. He recorded a detailed and lively account of his desert journey in 1774 from Aleppo to Baghdad. His observations give insights into the various places that he visited, including Bombay, Mocha, and Cairo. Everywhere he took much interest in commerce, government, and ways of life. He gave a detailed account of the preparations for the inundation and its impact on Cairo, and described the 216 groups making up the grand procession of pilgrims to Mecca' (ODNB). Very detailed is the description of pearl fishing and trade in and from Bahrein. Even the oyster shells where traded to Europa and China for mother of pearl ornaments. Chinese finished products then were exported again to Europe and the Ottoman Empire. An almost global pearl and oyster shell trade network.
Abbey 348; Atabey 927; not in Blackmer.
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