[manuscript] Skirmish in Persia By Captain Jas Edw Alexander (late) 16th Lancers. Quarto. 8 sides closely written (ie. two lose folio sheets, each folded once and written on both sides). Approximately 3000 words, in a small but neat and legible hand, with occasional minor corrections. No date. c. 1840. A seemingly original manuscript by Captain James Alexander (1803-1885), one of the founders of the Royal Geographic Society, who had a distinguished career in Persia, the Balkans, Portugal, South Africa and the Crimea. Captain Alexander was born in Scotland, in Stirling, where he is also buried. In 1838, he was knighted, and eventually was given the honorary rank of General in recognition of his services. During the course of his varied career, he also became an explorer, and Alexander Bay in South Africa is named after him. He wrote many works throughout his career describing his different expeditions, roles and events in which he participated. However, what distinguishes this account is that it appears to be an unpublished literary sketch, apparently his only excursion into fiction. It is written from the point of view of the Kizzibash, the Safavid tribes that traditionally fought for the Shah to expand or defend his territory. Here, in this story, they are grouping to defend Persia from the Russian incursion (presumably in the 1830s). It opens with a description of their dress, their horse riding and jousting, and their encamping for the night before, by the Caspian Sea, they come across and disperse a Russian force with ease. This account is remarkable in several ways: it is a well-written and closely observed description of life amongst a tribal grouping that appears to be even if romanticised plausible in its description. It would appear to be based on some degree of first-hand observation. Further, it is a description of a traditional military force, with javelins and horses clearing away a modern incursion without intervention from western armies. Additionally, it is one of the very rare early depictions of the Kizzibash in western literature. Fraser wrote a novel, The Kuzzilbash A Tale of Khorasan in two volumes (London; Henry Colburn 1828), but this is entirely different in tone and presentation. A remarkable document that in itself is of some importance for our understanding of the reception of Persian (as distinct from Arabian) culture in western literature, as well as revealing a new aspect of Alexander’s literary life.