Pair of flintlock pistols. The stock is of walnut with a plain domed brass butt cap and brass trigger guard. The pistols are fitted with an iron ramrod pipe mounted in an iron stirrup below the muzzle. There is a brass fore-end cap and brass sideplate. The lock is sidelock, flintlock. The barrel is circular. The calibre is 0.75in. The pistols are inscribed on the trigger guard 'P L E I A D'. The lockplate is inscribed 'E & W Bond/London' with the mark of the London Gunmaker's Company. The screw yacht Pleiad was designed by William Laird Jr and built by John Laird of Birkenhead for the Tohadda River Exploring Expedition 1854-56. The civilian crew included two Royal Navy officers but was never formally part of the Royal Navy. The expedition was written about in the book 'Narrative of an Exploring Voyage up the river Kwo'ra and Bi'nue' by Surgeon Baikie (pub J Murray 1856) in which he refers to "the Pleiad being armed with a 12 pounder pivot gun, four swivels, Minie rifles and double barrelled guns for the officers, muskets for the crew."