First Edition. 1865. Two volumes. 8vo. Portrait frontis to first volume, folding map, hand-coloured in outline, four folding plans ( correct as list) heavy spotting to endpapers, marbled edges and endpapers, attractive contemporary half-calf gilt decorated spines with contrasting red and black morocco labels. Palgrave, a Jesuit missionary and priest, was given support by the French government, as well as businessmen who were interested in establishing contacts for importing cotton and horses. He disguised himself as a Syrian Christian doctor named Selim Abu Mahmoud al Eis and spent 13 months travelling. Palgrave visited the Rashidi capital Hail and Riyadh, capital of the Saudis. Thence on to the shores of the Arabian Gulf where he visited Bahrain and importantly gives us probably the best nineteenth century description of Qatar and a detailed description of life in Oman and Muscat. Extremely scarce and delightful two volume set in period bindings