Narrative of a Year's Journey Through Central and Eastern Arabia (1862-63).

the first westerner in Riyadh

William Palgrave (1826-1828) was drawn to the Arab world by early impressions from reading the Arab romance Antar. For some years he was a successful missionary and became so accustomed to Arab society that he could pass as a local without difficulty.

In the employ of the French, his first mission was to sound Halim Pasha about becoming viceroy of Egypt under French suzerainty; although that project failed, Palgrave used the opportunity to prepare plans for a French invasion of Syria from Egypt. His next mission was to report on the Arabian kingdoms of Ha'il and Riyadh. For many years Arabia had remained closed to Europeans. Ha'il had been penetrated by Europeans only once; Riyadh, never. Disguised as a Syrian Christian physician named Selim Abu Mahmoud al-'Eis, Palgrave now undertook an adventurous journey across central Arabia, which he accomplished in 1862 and 1863, thereby becoming the first westerner to cross Arabia by an approximately diagonal route (from the north-west to the south-east). Travelling among the Wahabbis, he was in considerable danger, should he be detected as a European. Once, at Ha'il, he was recognized as having been seen at Damascus, and at Riyadh he was suspected and accused of being an English spy, but his skill at disguise, coupled with his presence of mind and good fortune, secured his safety. Palgrave returned to Europe in late 1863 and wrote the present book, a classic of Arabian travel literature (ODNB).

First edition; 2 vols in 1, 8vo (22 x 15 cm); frontispiece portrait, large folding map of Arabia hand-coloured in outline and laid on linen, 4 folding plans, previous ownership inscription to first blank, map a little toned; twentieth-century half-calf, marbled boards, spine in six gilt ruled compartments with gilt black morocco lettering piece, all edges marbled, later endpapers, a little rubbed, a very good copy; xii, [ii], 466 pp.; vi, 398 pp.