Of elliptical form with a hinged lid, bright cut engraved decoration of herringbone bands to edges. The lid with a later inset early 19th century Moroccan plaque engraved to the front with Arabic reading “The citizen of Timbuktu are the first to enter heaven”, and to the interior “Presented to John Drummon in Tangier 1250 AH” Hijri (1834-35). Gilt interior. Length - 8.5 cm / 3.35 inches Weight – 74 grams / 2.38 oztNotes:The inscription probably relates to Sir John Hay Drummond Hay (1816 - 1893), who at the age of 24, he was appointed a paid attaché to the Embassy of Constantinople, where he remained for four years. He was then sent to Morocco to assist his father, who was serving there as Agent and Consul-General. His father, the antiquarian, Edward William Auriol Drummond-Hay (1785-1845) was appointed Consul-General to Morocco and relocated to Tangiers in 1829 where he died in 1845.