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‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1904-1905’ [‎19] (29/178)

The record is made up of 1 volume (89 folios). It was created in 1906. It was written in English. 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. .

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RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. AND MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOR THE YEAR 1904-1905.
remaining 95 were giving manumission papers in the usual manner. Of this
number 35 were Airicans, for whose disposal the usual arrangements were made,
and 60 were either Persians or Baluchis who had been exported from Jask
and certain Mekran ports to Sohar and other places on the Batineh Coast. In
connection with this latter traffic strong measures have been and are being
taken by His Highness the Sultan to deal effectively with such of his subjects
as have been concerned in it. The chief offender on this side appears to have
been one Jemadar Abdullah, the Commander of His Highness's garrison at
Sohar, who was in league with certain Persians at and near Jask. This
Jemadar has recently undergone a period of imprisonment in Maskat on this
account, and has now, it is said, fled to Baluchistan; while representations
regarding the share taken by their subjects in the traffic have been addressed
to the Persian Government. It is to be hoped that these representations will
be renewed until they meet with some result as it is dfficult to deal successfully
with a matter of this kind unless both parties co-operate heartily.
8. The great social event of the year in Maskat was the marriage of Sayyid Marriage of
Taimoor, the Sultan's eldest son, to a daughter of Sayyid Ali-bin-Salim-bin- Taimoor.
Thowayni, His Highness's cousin. This took place in December and was
accompanied with general feasting and rejoicing among all classes and com
munities. His Highness the Sultan entertained each community in Maskat
and Mattrah separately as well as a number of visitors from outlying stations,
and invited the European representatives and their families to dinner in
honour of the occasion. The 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. paid a special complimentary
visit to the bridegroom during which he presented the congratulations of
Government and a Silver Coffee and Tea Service as a token of their regard.
9. The event of the year which gave most trouble and anxiety both to Marine.
His Highness the Sultan and to the 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. was the massacre of a
boat's crew of the S. S. Baron Inverdale on Maseerah Island in August
last. This unfortunate vessel, the property of Messrs. Hogarth of Glasgow, was
on her way from Karachi to Aden and grounded on Kabbya Island, one of
Kuria-Muria group, on the 2nd August. Three days later, the master, officers,
and crew (with the exception of eight men who preferred to remain on board)
with one boy passenger, embarked in two of the ship's boats, intending, it is
believed, to cross over to Dhofar, and travel thence by land to Maskat or some
other place of security. The total number of persons who left the ship appears
to have been 23, of whom 17 embarked in the larger boat, and six in the
smaller. These boats were not successful in reaching Dhofar, but were carried
out to sea. The smaller of the two has never been heard of since, and was
probably lost in the heavy monsoon sea which must have prevailed to compel
the boats to alter their course. The larger boat journeyed on northwards, either
under compulsion by the sea or with the hope of eventually reaching Maskat,
and about the 15th August arrived off the Island of Maseerah. It is not
known exactly what took place there, but in all probability the natives saw
the boat coming and wished to plunder its contents, the occupants naturally
objected, and a dispute ensued which culminated in the massacre of the beat's
crew, and the confiscation by the Arabs of whatever money and supplies they
found with them. It is certain that no person remained alive of the unfortu
nate refugees.
The first news of this tragic occurrence to reach Maskat was contained in
a letter to His Highness the Sultan from Sheikh Isa-bin-Saleh (referred to in
the commencement of this report), who stated that a rumour bad reached him
to the effect that 17 " Englishmen" had been massacred on Maseerah Island.
This following upon a report which had reached to the 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. two or
three days before (23rd August) regarding the wreck of the Baron luverdale
raised suspicions that the two events might be connected, and the Gcvvernment-
of India were communicated with the result of which was that H. M. S,
Lapwing w as despatched from Karachi to the scene of the supposed crime, ,
and H. M. S. Merlin was placed at the disposal of the 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. for
a visit to Maseerah- Island in company with His Highness the Sultan.
Neither expedition was productive of result, the matter was successfully
concealed and both parties returned to Maskat, H. M. S. Lapwing on
the 8th and H. M. S. Merlin on the 18th September without having gained

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Content

Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat [Muscat] Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1904-1905, published by the Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India (Calcutta).

The report is divided into a number of parts:

1. General Summary , prepared by Major Percy Zachariah Cox, Officiating 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (pages 1D-16), including reports on: the year’s rainfall and harvest, governorship of Bushire; public peace and tranquillity in and around Bushire; quarantine and public health, with details of plague and cholera epidemics in the region; administration of customs in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , including new posts created in the Imperial Customs Administration; postal service; events in the ports of the Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , including an assessment of the year’s pearling season, comments about the character of each ruling shaikh’s administration, changes of rulers, visits made on shaikhs by the Resident; events in Bahrain [referred to as Bahrein], including the taking over of Political Agent’s duties by Captain Francis Beville Prideaux from John Calcott Gaskin, assessment of the year’s pearling season, the character of Shaikh Esa’s [Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah] administration, and unrest and violent incidents; unsafe conditions and customs at El Hassa [Al-Hasa] and El Katif [Al-Qaṭīf]; events in Koweit [Kuwait] and Nejd, including Captain Stuart George Knox’s appointment as 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. for Kuwait, Ibn Saood’s [Ibn Sa‘ūd] territorial gains in Nejd, and subsequent meetings between Wahhābī A follower of the Islamic reform movement known as Wahhabism; also used to refer to the people and territories ruled by the Al-Saud family. and Turkish representatives, and friction between Turkish officials and Shaikh Mubarak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ’s Land Agent over the Shaikh’s date gardens; events in Persian Arabistan, including the appointment of governor, security in the region and violent incidents, including assaults on a Lieutenant Lorimer and Colonel Douglas; events in Kermānshāh, chiefly the appointments of British officials; events in Fārs and on the Persian coast, including restrictions on movement as a result of the cholera epidemic; events in Kermān and Persian Baluchistan, including the appointment of officials, epidemics of smallpox and cholera; the slave trade, with numbers of slaves freed; incidents of piracy; cases of arms trafficking; details of the Resident’s annual tour; the movements of British naval vessels, and changes of British and foreign official personnel. The appendix to part 1 contains statistical tables of meteorological data.

2. Annual Administration Report of the Maskat [Muscat] Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for the Year 1904- 1905, prepared by Major William George Grey, Officiating 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. (pages 17-20) including reports on inter-tribal quarrels; the political situation in Muscat; the cholera epidemic; fires caused by the hot weather in Muscat; customs administration at Muscat, Soor [Sur] and Gwadur [Gwadar]; arms trafficking; rainfall; the acquisition and construction of new government buildings; the slave trade, including measures taken to suppress the trade, and numbers of slaves seeking manumission at Muscat; the marriage of the Sultan’s son, Sayyid Taimoor [Sa‘īd ibn Taymūr]; events at sea, including the wrecking of the British vessel Baron Inverdale and the murder of its crew.

3. Report on the Trade and Commerce of Bushire for the Year 1904 , prepared by R A Richards, His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul (pages 21-128), with general remarks on imports and exports, with additional notes on tea, wheat, and vegetables; rates of exchange for London and Bombay; cost of freight and transport; customs, and the effect of the new Customs Tariff on small traders; advice to shippers and steamship companies; and total figures on the numbers and tonnage of shipping at Bushire. Appendix A is comprised of tabular data showing trade figures for the years 1902-04, indicating: the value and quantities of all goods imported and exported between Bushire and England, and between Bushire and other countries in the world; imports and exports to and from to other ports in the Gulf, with details of the nationalities and tonnage of vessels, and volumes and values of the different categories of goods traded.

4. Trade Report for Maskat [Muscat], 1904-05 , prepared by Major William George Grey, Officiating 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. , Muscat (pages 129-32), with an overview of trade, included value of imports and exports, and chief items traded; and percentages of Muscat trade to other countries. Appendix A includes tabular data of imports and exports into Muscat for the years 1902-04, indicating the quantities of goods and their value in dollars, and the tonnage and nationality of vessels visiting Muscat.

5. Report on the Trade and Commerce of Arabistan for the Year 1904 , prepared by William McDouall, His Britannic Majesty’s Consul for Arabistan (pages 133-40), with a general overview of trade; rate of exchange; shipping; details of the local cotton trade, caravan trade routes; agriculture (wheat, dates and wool); public works; health; and customs. Appendix A contains tabular data of trade into the port of Mohammerah [Khorramshahr] and other Kārūn ports for 1904.

6. Trade Report of Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] for the Year 1904 , prepared by Lieutenant William Henry Irvine Shakespear, His Majesty’s Britannic Consul, Bandar-e ʻAbbās (pages 141-49), including: general remarks on the year’s trade; customs tariff and duties; opportunities for British trade and the progress of rival trade; difficulties faced in trade at Bandar-e ʻAbbās, including a lack of banking facilities and inadequate landing and storage facilities; rate of exchange; freight; and shipping. Appendix A contains tabular data presenting comparative data on trade between the years 1903 and 1904, value of trade, and nationalities and tonnage of trading vessels at the port.

7. Report on the Trade of the Bahrein [Bahrain] Islands for the Year 1904 , prepared by Captain Francis Beville Prideaux, Assistant 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. (pages 150-56), with reports on trade, including: the activities of Messrs Gray Paul & Co. of London, and the German company of Robert Wonckhaus; trade in cotton, rice, coffee and dates; assessment of the pearl fishing season; export of oyster shells. Appendix A contains tabular data presenting an overview of Bahrain’s principal imports and exports during 1903-04.

8. Trade Report for Koweit [Kuwait] , 1904-05 , prepared by Captain Stuart George Knox, 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. (pages 157-62), including estimated figures for the year’s trade. Appendix A contains tabular data of import and exports at Kuwait for the year ending 31 March 1905. Appended to the trade report is a medical report, prepared by Daudur Rahman, Assistant Surgeon at Kuwait, dated 2 April 1905, which reports on the work of the Kuwait dispensary, with an overview of the prevalence of diseases in the town (including eye diseases, tuberculosis, rheumatism, skin diseases, venereal diseases, and cholera epidemic), sanitation measures, and mortality.

Extent and format
1 volume (89 folios)
Arrangement

The report is arranged into a number of parts with subheadings, with statistic data in tabular format following each written part as appendices. There is a contents page at the front of the report (page 1B) which lists each part of the report with its page number.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The volume contains an original printed pagination sequence, which starts on the title page and ends on the last page; these numbers are located in the top outermost corners of each page. Additions to this sequence have been made in pencil to account for any pages not originally labelled. In consequence, the following pagination anomalies occur: 1, and 1A-D.

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English in Latin script
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‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1904-1905’ [‎19] (29/178), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/504, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023282068.0x00001f> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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