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‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [11v] (22/130)
The record is made up of 1 volume (65 folios). It was created in 1903. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
12
CHAPTER 11.*
Zarun Eiver Navigation and Irrigation schemes, 1871-79.
(i) History of the Schemes from 1871 to 1877.
60. The river Karun figures prominently in our records of 1857, when
Major Boil's Account of British Wars with during the Anglo-Persian war, three
i ' er,ia river steamers Comet, Flanet, and Assyria
each towing a gun-hoat of 24 pounder howitzers, ascended up the river from
Mohammerah with 300 British troops under the command of Captain Rennie.
The expedition left on 2nd March 1857 and proceeded up pursuing the Persian
Army numbering about 8,000. It reached Ahwaz on 1st April. The troops
landed and dispersed the enemy. As peace was concluded, the expedition return
ed soon after.
61. The earliest record we have got on the question of the opening of the
Karun to foreign commerce begins in the year 1871 and runs up to the year
1879, when there occurs a gap, which opens up again in 1881.
62. In July 1871, the firm of Messrs. Gray, Paul & Co., addressed Sir Lewis
Political a , October 1871, nob. 662-651. ^ ien ^ es ^ en t>
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, regard
ing the navigation of the Karun; They
suggested that the Persian Government might be induced to support a scheme by
subsidizing a line of steamers which they would be prepared to run under con
tract. They pointed out that by steam communication between Mohammerah and
Shuster goods would reach Ispahan from the coast in ten days, while by the
land routes the time occupied is from 30 to 35 days. The application was sent
to Mr. C. Alison, then Her Majesty's Minister at Teheran, Sir Lewis Pelly re-
marking that he had long been impressed with the physical advantages of the
line. Mr. Alison thought the time was then unfavorable. All the available
resources of the State were being employed in keeping the people from starva
tion, and he did not think the Shah's Ministers would be prepared to enter into
political a, june 1872, No. 608. con tract. In forwarding the papers to
Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India.
the Government of India remarked that the practicability of the navio-ation of
the Karun as far as Shuster had been established, but that, under the circum
stances, they were not then prepared to give any practical support to the scheme
proposed.
63. About the same time, Mr. Dawes, of the firm of Gray, Paul & Co.
Political A, January 1872, Nos. 109-112.
proposed to the Persian Government the
_ . construction of a line of railwav frnm
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
to Teheran via the Karun, Shuster, and Ispahan. He proposed
that the Persian Government should give a guarantee or some other material
support, and that the concession should include the privilege of workirio.
steamers on the Karun The proposal came to nothing. The Government of
India forwarded a copy of the papers to the Secretary of State for India with,
out any remark. w11jU
64). la June 1873, Mr. Dawes addressed the Under-Secretary of State for
Secret, December 1873, No. 28. India. He remarked on the annually
■p . , . , ^ . increasing proportion of Russian eoods in
Persia, and a?aiu urged the openmg of the Karun for navigation, fnd the
construction of a line of railway from Shuster to Ispahan. He said—
" Mohammerah is a good port. an d in this respect has a great advantage over Bushire where
sbps have to anchor four miles from the shore; steamers navi(-atin» thk" I
exchange traffic with the mail steamers to and from India, and the nyer boats nl^nK T
Buneh and Bagdad. The province of Khozistan, in which are sitnaS Moha^ah® Shtl?
and Dizful, is the most fertile and well watered in Persia ; misgovcrnment has recced it to
1875— t ^ iS 1 llave considerably oaeoi two precis compiled ia the FoMigI1 nepartmrnTTn
About this item
- Content
The volume, stamped ‘Secret’ on the front cover and frontispiece, is part 1 (historical and political materials) of a précis of Persian Arabistan affairs. It was prepared by Judge Jerome Antony Saldanha of the Bombay Provincial Civil Service, and published in 1903 by the Government of India Foreign Department, Simla, India.
The contents of the volume run as follows:
Chapter 1, entitled Internal affairs, 1876-1904 , including: early history of the region, up until 1873; early history of the Kaab tribe; murder of Shaikh Lufti, Kaab chief; death of Haji Jabir Khan, Governor of Mohammerah [Khorramshahr], and Shaikh Mizal’s succession; local chiefs and governors between 1878 and 1883; Govenor-Generals of Arabistan; trouble in the Kaab districts, and release of Shaikh Mizal’s brother Mahomed; disturbances in Arabistan and Persian intrigues, 1888; narrative of events, 1891-97; murder of Shaikh Mizal [Maz’al bin Jabir bin Merdaw al-Ka’bi] and succession of his brother, Shaikh Khazal [Khaz’al bin Jabir bin Merdaw al-Ka’bi], 1897.
2. Karun river [Rūd-e Kārūn] navigation and irrigation schemes, 1871-79 , including a history of the navigation and irrigation schemes, 1871-77; proposed railways from Rehst [Rasht] to Teheran, and from Teheran to the Karan river; question of navigation of the Karun, 1878-79.
3. Karun river navigation and irrigation schemes, 1881-83 , including: an historical overview; navigability; trade routes; general remarks. Four appendices follow chapter 3: A) Reports by Colonel Edward Ross, 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. , on the Karun river navigation; reports by Captain Henry Wells on the Ahwaz canal; memoranda on the Karun river by Sir Henry Rawlinson; a report comparing routes from Ispahan [Eşfahān] to the sea, by Captain Wells; and Felix Vauvillier’s scheme for establishing water communication between Kermanshah [Khorramshahr] and Dizful [Dezfūl] (in French).
4. Opening of the Karun to navigation of all nations, 1888-89 .
5. Obstacles in the way of the British enterprise on the Karan river , including: the erection of warehouses and business premises on the banks of the river; misunderstanding over tonnage dues and certification; charges against Mr John Gaskin over irregular conduct and his employment of private servants; navigation of the Upper Karun; rival enterprises and intrigues of the Shaikh of Mohammerah; embargo on grain; fanatical outbreaks of local tribes and Persian soldiers against British interest.
6 . Karun river subsidy, 1890-1900.
7. Appointment of consular officers in Arabistan , including: the appointment of Mr William McDouall as Vice-Consul for Mohammerah, 1890; the appointment of Major Edmund Boteler Burton to act for McDouall; the appointment of Lieutenant David Lorimer as Vice-Consul for Arabistan; the appointment of a consular surgeon for Arabistan; headquarters and accommodation for the Vice-Consul and Consular Surgeon at Arabistan; attack on Lieutenant Lorimer and Colonel Douglas.
8. Construction of roads in aid of the Karun river trade.
9. Desire of Shaikh Khazal to place himself under British protection: interference of Belgian customs administration in Mohammerah Customs and British intervention, 1898-1904 , including Shaikh Khazal seeks British protection, 1898-99; proposed establishment of Persian customs at Mohammerah and Shaikh Khazal’s appeal to the British 1900-04; presence of Belgian customs boats on the Shat el-Arab, 1904.
10. Attempted change in the system of collection of customs on the Karun river, 1902-03 .
11. Disturbed state of Arabistan: attacks on the Shushan [ Sūsa ] : measures for its protection .
12. Restoration of Ancient Elam: projected irrigation works in Arabistan, 1903-04 .
The appendix at the end of the volume is a memorandum on the Kaab tribe and Mohammerah, dated 6 January 1844, and written by Sir Henry Rawlinson, 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. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. .
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (65 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged into twelve chapters (identified by Roman numerals), which are followed by an appendix. Between chapters 3 and 4 there are a further five appendices, relating specifically to the contents of chapter 3. Most chapters are divided up by subheadings, and all chapters (not appendices) have numbered paragraphs. The paragraph numbers are continuous throughout the whole volume, beginning on 1 at the start of the first chapter, and ending on 336 at the end of the twelfth chapter. A contents page at the front of the volume (f 5) lists the chapters by their headings and subheadings, with each referred to by their paragraph, rather than page, numbers. Appendices are also listed on the contents page.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence, with page numbers located top and centre of each page.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/C242
- Title
- ‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’
- Pages
- 11v:12r
- Author
- Gray Paul & Co.
- Copyright
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