For the first time in Qatar, the scientific and the artistic copy of the original manuscript by Count Rzewuski has been brought into the country as part of the celebration of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival which will conclude today at Katara Esplanade.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Poland’s Manuscriptum Publishing House Board Member, Bartlomiej Felus, who was invited to Doha by the Qatar-Poland Business Council said: “This is one of the manuscripts that create the bridge between Europe and the Arab world. Count Rzewuski was a Polish magnate and famous orientalist who came to the Arabian Peninsula 200 years ago starting from 1817.”
Felus said the manuscript is extremely special and rare. “This manuscript is a special and unique gift. Today you can have anything, beautiful watches, boats, cars, but this is a limited edition, not accessible for all” he disclosed.
The manuscript is written in French and Arabic languages, in which Rzewuski was fluent. The Manuscriptum Publishing House published a limited edition of it where they handcrafted only 200 copies for the worldwide edition. “Each copy is certified by a lawyer and has its specific number,” Felus said.
The scientific copy in the form of a jewellery book is covered in gold and gem stones, emphasising the value of the original. The copy consists of 352 pages and 218,000 words, including 65 charming sketches and over 100 other illustrations and maps.
Felus said bringing the manuscript will raise the knowledge of Arabian horses, as well as the history, culture, tradition of the Arabian Peninsula consisting of the people, their habits, and even dresses which Rzewuski perfectly portrayed through his sketches which are in full colour.
“We are giving the people the living history, the exact copy. Touching every page of the book is like touching the history. The body looks like, even smells like the original, the texture and the sound of the paper are the same” he explained.
Felus also recounted that there is a map showing Rzewuski crossed Qatar’s territories. “You will find a lot of extremely interesting things coming from the Arabian Peninsula, like the list of Bedouin tribes where many people today can find the names of their great grandfathers in the Middle East, the calligraphy, battlefields, music, and the poetry of Rzewuski written in Arabic,” Felus narrated.
Rzewuski started his adventure in the Middle East with a goal to buy Arabian horses. He took part in battles against the Turks. The knowledge of horses and the local languages gave him the recognition and friendship of 13 Bedouin tribes. He was given the Arabic title Taj Al Fahr - The Crown of Glory.
He was the first European who crossed and penetrated a vast, uncharted desert of Najd and the first who brought Arabian horses to Europe. “Thanks to this man, in Poland we have a very good type of Arabian horse called Pure Polish Arabian” Felus explained.
