'File 59/15 B (A 14) Muscat: slave trade under cover of French flag'
IOR/R/15/1/552
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The record is made up of 1 volume (163 folios). It was created in 2 Jan 1902-21 Mar 1904. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
About this record
- Content
The volume comprises correspondence and other papers relating to competing British and French interests in Muscat and Oman at the beginning of the twentieth century. The principal point of contention between British officials, represented by Percy Cox (Muscat Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. 1899-1903), was the use of the French flag by Omani vessels, permitted by the French Vice-Consul to Muscat, and regarded by the British as being exploited by the region's slave traders as a means of avoiding interference by British ships.
Items of note include a letter from Cox to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. (Charles Kemball), dated 2 January 1902, discussing relations since 1891 between the Sultan of Muscat and British and French officials, the abuse of the French flag in the town, and the need for diplomatic negotiations between Britain, France and the Sultan to resolve the situation (folios 1F-37). Enclosed with Cox's letter is an eyewitness account (from a British Indian subject residing in Soor [Sur]) of slave trading activity in the town during 1901 (folios 31-35). The file also includes a letter from Cox to his French counterpart (Roger Laronce), dated February 1902, explaining that the Sultan protests at what he describes as the French Government's claims to exercise jurisdiction in Muscat territory over Omani subjects (folios 70-71), and Laronce's reply (folion 73); and a report of a tour of the Muscat coast aboard HMS "Amphritite" by Cox (folios 120-22) and Charles Windham, the "Amphritites's" captain (folios 147-49).
Reference is made in a number of pieces of correspondence to a confrontation between Arab slave traders and the Portuguese in Mozambique on 18 March 1902 (folios 117-118, and 140-141). In May 1903 Cox writes to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , informing him that he has received information from the British Vice-Consul at Mozambique, of around 100 inhabitants of Muscat and Sur being captured and killed in the confrontation (folios 178-180). Cox uses this incident to repeat his recommendation that a British Agent be installed at Sur (folios 145b-145d). Arrangements are also made to loan the Sultan of Muscat funds to enable him to buy his own steamer (folios 123-127), which Cox hopes will encourage the Sultan to take responsibility for his coast, and in particular Sur (folios 135-138). A blueprint of the steamer acquired for the Sultan is included in the file (foldout plan, folio 169).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (163 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers contained in the volume have been arranged in rough chronological order, from the earliest piece at the front of the volume to the latest at the end.
There are two indexes at the front of the volume. The first (found on folio 1A) includes a list of subjects with folio numbers. The second is titled an 'Index of references' (folios 1D-1E), and includes descriptions of correspondence with folio numbers.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The volume is foliated from the front cover to last page, using a combination of two numbering systems. The first foliation system uses blue or red pencil numbers in the top-right of recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. and top-left of verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. pages. This foliation system is the original foliation system, and is used in the references index pages (folios 1D-1E). This foliation is used on all pages with text, both recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. and verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. . The second, more recent foliation system uses circled pencil numbers in the top-right corner of recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. pages only, and is intended to fill the gaps left by the earlier foliation system. Foliation anomalies: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 145A, 145B, 146C, 145D. Foldout item on folio 169.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script
- Type
- Archival file
Archive information for this record
- Original held at
- British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
- Access conditions
Unrestricted
- Archive reference
- IOR/R/15/1/552
- Former external reference(s)
- A Series: 59/15 B Confidential Series: A 14
- Date(s)
- 2 Jan 1902-21 Mar 1904 (CE, Gregorian)
- Context of creation
In 1894 France appointed a Vice-Consular Agent to Muscat, allowing ships in the port to be registered under French flags. The issue of French papers to vessels in the French colonies of Africa and the Indian Ocean was common policy from the 1860s, as a means of extending French influence in the region. However, because such ships were immune from being boarded and searched by British naval vessels, the French flag was exploited by slave traders who wished to avoid interference from British authorities. For more information, see chapters 2 and 6, Busch, Britain and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. 1894-1914 , (University of California Press, 1967).
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Related material
Related search terms
- Places
- MuscatBūshehr
- People & organisations
- Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa'īd, Sultan of Muscat and OmanJames OrtonFrancis WardenHugh Weightman
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'File 59/15 B (A 14) Muscat: slave trade under cover of French flag', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/552, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x00020d> [accessed 13 October 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/552
- Title
- 'File 59/15 B (A 14) Muscat: slave trade under cover of French flag'
- Pages
- 51r, 61r
- Author
- Laronce, Lucien-Ernest--Roger
- Usage terms
- Public Domain
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/552
- Title
- 'File 59/15 B (A 14) Muscat: slave trade under cover of French flag'
- Pages
- 51r
- Author
- Āl Bū Sa‘īd, Sayyid Fayṣal bin Turkī
- Usage terms
- Public Domain
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/552
- Title
- 'File 59/15 B (A 14) Muscat: slave trade under cover of French flag'
- Pages
- 73r, 80r
- Author
- Laronce, Lucien-Ernest--Roger
- Usage terms
- Public Domain
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/552
- Title
- 'File 59/15 B (A 14) Muscat: slave trade under cover of French flag'
- Pages
- 140r
- Author
- Abdulla bin Abdurrahman Es Sanani
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact [email protected] with any information you have regarding this item.
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/552
- Title
- 'File 59/15 B (A 14) Muscat: slave trade under cover of French flag'
- Pages
- 140v
- Author
- Saeed bin Saleh bin Ali
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact [email protected] with any information you have regarding this item.
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/552
- Title
- 'File 59/15 B (A 14) Muscat: slave trade under cover of French flag'
- Pages
- front, back, spine , edge, head, tail, front-i, 1ar:1fv, 3r:3v, 5r:5v, 7r:7v, 9r:9v, 11r:11v, 13r:13v, 15r:15v, 17r:17v, 19r:19v, 21r:21v, 23r:23v, 25r:25v, 27r:27v, 29r:29v, 31r:31v, 33r:33v, 35r:36v, 38r:39v, 41r:41v, 43r:43v, 45r:45v, 47r:50v, 51v:54v, 56r:58v, 60r:60v, 61v:65v, 67r:70v, 72r:72v, 73v:78v, 80v:92v, 94r:103v, 105r:108v, 110r:110v, 112r:112v, 114r:114v, 116r:117v, 119r:120v, 122r:124v, 126r:126v, 128r:128v, 130r:130v, 132r:132v, 134r:135v, 137r:137v, 139r:139v, 142r:142v, 144r:144v, 145ar:145bv, 145dr:145dv, 146r:147v, 149r:150v, 152r:157v, 159r:186v, 188r:191v, i-r:i-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence