Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — A seminar on Finnish orientalist and explorer of the Arabian Peninsula George August Wallin was held at the residence of Ambassador of Finland Pekka Voutilainen in Riyadh. The seminar was a part of the ongoing European Week and was attended by diplomats, local and international researchers, intellectuals, writers and many prominent Saudi men and women. Ambassador Voutilainen welcomed the participants. Member of Saudi Shoura Council and researcher Dr. Mohamed Al-Zulfa was the guest speaker. Al-Zulfa presented an overview of European explorers of the Arabian Peninsula. “Time is short and the travellers are too many,” said Al-Zulfa as he introduced the explorers through a slide show. J.B. Philby (1885-1960), T.E. Lawrence (1888-1935), Gerald de Gaury (1897-1984), George August Wallin (1811-1852) were among the various European explorers highlighted by Al-Zulfa. Voutilainen made a presentation on Wallin's expeditions in the north of Arabia during the 1840s. Wallin was born in the municipality of Sund on the Baltic island of Åland in 1811. In 1829, he enrolled to study oriental languages at the University of Helsinki graduating with an MA in 1836. He met with Sheikh Muhammad Sayyad Al-Tantawi, who became his Arabic teacher, at St. Petersburg in 1839. “From Sheikh Tantawi he learned more about the Middle East, the Arabs and Islamic culture,” Voutilainen said. While speaking about Wallin's Middle Eastern journeys, Voutilainen said, “Wallin was the first European to reach Al-Jouf and Hail.” He said Wallin made his first expedition to the area in 1843 and he made his first desert trip in 1845 followed by his second in 1846. He travelled via Taima and Tabuk and again as far as Hail. From Hail he turned north to Baghdad and went on to Persia during his third and last journey in 1847. “Wallin was also known as Abd Al-Wali. He took this name and visited Makkah and Madinah. He was the first scholar to collect the Bedouin poetry and make observations on Bedouin dialects,” Voutilainen said. Wallin died in 1852 and his Arabic name “Abd Al-Wali” was engraved over his grave in Helsinki. Voutilainen said Wallin was the most respected Arabists of his times. Wallin wrote that he found European cultures oppressive and that he couldn't adapt himself to Europe anymore. The seminar was followed by a sumptuous buffet dinner.
