![‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [‎12r] (23/130)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001c8/IOR_L_PS_20_C242_0024.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [‎12r] (23/130)")
‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [12r] (23/130)
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.
jtfe present low ebb J welj managed/it might become what it once was, one o£ the granaries
of the world. The practicability of this route from Shuster to Ispahan has been condemned
by some, who maintain that the Bashtain range of mountains is impa^sablp for a railway. The
physical difficulties are doubtless formidable^ Persians, however, state they are sreatly over
rated, and that the hitherto unsafe state of the country, and not its natural difficulties, is th«
reason for its not being traversed,"
Mr. Dawes considered best route to be tbat from Mobammerali Did Shuster
to Ispahan, or from Shuster ma Dizful and Burudjird to Kum and Teheran,
In the event of these two routes proving impracticable, he said there was still
the alternative of carrying a line from Bunder Abbas by Lar to the valley of
Bandamir, and thence to Ispahan; this however, is 400 miles longer than the
Shuster route, and traverses a country where the scarcity of water renders any
great developmient of agriculture impossible. Mr. Dawes was thanked for his
Secret, December 1873, No. so. suggestions and told that the subject was
under consideration.
. .. . i _ . , r
65. In Captain Napier's diary for February 1875 it was said that Sheikh
Secret, June 1875, Noa. 115-147. ■ Wr of Mohammerah, the Chief of the
Jlaab Arabs, had for some time given
offence to the Persians by acts indicating an assumption of independent
authority; that a force of 1,600 men sent by the Governor of Shuster to enforce
payment of arrears of revenue was driven back from Mohammerah by the
Sheikh's troops; and that it was reported that the Shah had ordered a force to
be collected to march to the south under his own command. Simultaneously
with this appeared a letter in the Neue Freie Press, a Vienna paper, written by
Dr. Pollak, formerly Physician to the Shah. He said that, with the aid of the
English, Sheikh Jabir had occupied Mohammerah, and was prepared to declare
himself independent; that the Sheikh would probably, in return for a good
pension, cede his position to the English; and that the English would then, from
the important situation of Mohammerah, command Arabia, Persia, and Turkey.
He went on to say that the steps taken were in consequence of the advances
made by Russia in Central Asia, and that the English were compelled to take
up a firm position which would enable them readily to despatch their troops
into the heart of the country at Shuster^ from which there are roads and lines
to Kermanshah, Hamadan, Teheran, and Ispahan. He thought that the effect
would simply be to counterbalance Russian infiunce in Persia. This article,
which was duly translated to the Shah, * ( aroused his anger and suspicions.' ,
Mr. Taylour Thomson remarked that, though the alleged political intrigue of
England, and of the report of her troops being in possession of the island, were
probably not believed by the Persian Government, yet the value of the position
was so evident that it was not surprising the perusal of the article should have
produced on the Shah's mind the strong impression it was said to have done.
The following remarks were made by Mr. Aitchison on the case :—
J. ^ i. ..... 1 • r f % ^ . ' , . """" ' ^ '
u The advantages of the Karun ^s a route for trade are well known, and three years ago
we drew the late Mr. Alison^s attenion to it. The transition from a trade to a military route
is very easy, and it is probably the interest we have manifested in the route, combined with
the rebellious proceedings of Sheikh Jabbar, that has given rise to the mischievous article
referred to/' - 1 ■ J «
66. In, May 1875, Mr. Mackenzie, of the firm of Gray, Paul & Co.,
n i a q f v, i q ' tcc xr a iK forwarded 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.
in the
General, A, September 1875, Noa. 1-5. ^ ^
Persian Gult a report of a ride he had just
tben imade from Ispahan to Shuster. Gray, Paul & Co. had established an
agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
at Ispahan, and Mr. Mackenzie said they were prepared to push trade
in that direction, via Shuster, and endeavour to open up the route, which the
navigation of the Karun alone could do. He said that it would, however, in
the, first instance, to ensure success, require, to be a line subsidized by Govern
ment, and so receive their countenance and support. Mr. Mackenzie gave a
very favorable account of the people and the country between Shuster and
Ispahan; Were the Karun opened to Shuster, his firm, he felt sure, could
deliver goods at Ispahan at 35 krans per load' of 350 lbs., as against 60 krans
per 1'bad sent from Bushire to Ispahan via Shiraz; and he estimated that,
[S96QFD] d
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [12r] (23/130), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C242, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023528248.0x000019> [accessed 24 August 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023528248.0x000019
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023528248.0x000019">‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [‎12r] (23/130)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023528248.0x000019"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001c8/IOR_L_PS_20_C242_0024.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001c8/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- 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
- ©Inchcape plc
- Usage terms
- Creative Commons Non-Commercial Licence