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‘Administration report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for 1893-94’ [‎127v] (25/63)

The record is made up of 1 volume (30 folios). It was created in 1894. 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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ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. POLITICAL
imports under certain heads shew a marked increase in volume when compared
with those of 1892. _ .
One of the chief difficulties with which trade has to contend m Southern
Persia, and indeed throughout the country, is the unsatisfactory state of the
routes, for it would be impossible to call them roads. There can be no doubt
of the vast gain which, in the interests of the development of trade generally,
and the consequent diffussionof prosperity throughout the country, would result
from an improvement of the means of communication ; but the responsibility
in this connection is one which, in practice certainly, if not in theory, appears
to be entirely ignored, and such efforts as have been made to lemedy the evil,
have been due to the enterprise of European Companies. An instance of this
is to be found in the Road Company which has laid down a carriage road be-
tween Tehran and Koom, and placed a service of vehicles upon it. The scheme
contemplated an extension to Ispahan and Shuster, but without more encourage
ment, and better prospects for the security of the profits in the undertaking
than the present condition of things affords, the extension seems doubtful.
An important event of the year was the withdrawal from Persia of the
Agencies of the Ottoman Bank, and banking operations in this country are now
practically a monopoly in the hands of the Imperial Bank of Persia.
It would be vain to deny that the commercial outlook generally is at
present far from encouraging. The decline in the value of silver, which
appears still unarrested in curtailing the purchasing power of the country,
must injuriously affect the import trade, and the result is perhaps aggravated ;
certainly an evil is added to it by the encouragement on the part of certain
of the priesthood of a belief among the people that the inevitable rise in prices
is due only to an arbitrary enhancement imposed by British traders.
IMPORTS.
Indigo. Trade in this article continues to increase. Consequent on the
rebellion of the Baharloo tribes in 1892, the trade routes between Bunder
Abbas, Yezd, and Kerman were regarded as unsafe during the greater part of
1893, and a considerable portion of the indigo ordinarily imported through
Bunder Abbas was diverted from its usual channel and sent through Bushire.
Glass and China-ware. —Trade in these wares was dull.
Arms and Notwithstanding the prohibition against the im
portation of arms, which still remains in force, considerable quantities were,
it is stated, imported during the year into Bushire, whence they were de-
spatched to Persian Arabistan, where a good market is found, or re-shipped with
the Arab coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. as their destination.
Gold lace and gold thread. —There was little demand for this article, and
only a small quantity was imported.
Cotton #oods.—The year opened auspiciously in this branch of trade, and
for some months there was a strong demand for cotton goods, fair prices being
realised. As the year advanced, however, the gradual but persistent fall in the
exchange value of the Kran began to make itself felt, and adversely affected
the market. The appearance of cholera, the destruction by locusts of the
crops in many of the grain-growing districts, and the widespread distress that
ensued, caused a still further depression of trade. These adverse conditions
produced the most disastrous effects in this branch of trade, and the imports for
1893 show a decrease in value of no less than £90,000 on those of the previous
year.
Candles. —Candles have been imported in large quantities during the year,
and good prices have been realised.

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Content

Administration Report of 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 Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1893-94, published by the Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India (Calcutta), forming part of Selections from the Records of the Government of India, Foreign Department, and based on reports sent to Government by 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 Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and 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. at Muscat.

The report is divided up into a number of sections and subsections, as follows:

Part 1 , is a General Summary (folios 118-123r) written by Colonel Frederick Alexander Wilson, 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. and is divided up as follows:

1. Oman-Muscat Coast, gives a summary of political and military developments on the coast with a brief comment on trade matters.

2. Oman Pirate Coast, gives a summary of relations between the various ruling families on the coast.

3. Bahrain, summary of developments in Bahrain during the previous year including news that the Ottoman Governor of El Katif [Al Qatif] had put up notices there asserting Turkish (Ottoman) sovereignty over Bahrain. It also reports a decline in pearl-fishing caused by a cholera outbreak and heavy rainfall that led to a number of fatalities.

4. El Hasa and Ojair, a brief account of tribal movements and gatherings in the area.

5. El Katif [Al Qatif], a summary of events in El Katif; records an outbreak of cholera, the appointment of a new Ottoman governor and other developments.

6. El Katr [Qatar], a summary of events in El Katr during the previous year including details of a confrontation between Shaikh Jasim and forces of the Ottoman Government.

7. Persian Arabistan, a summary of events in the region in the previous year. Reports outbreaks of disease and several other matters.

8. Fars and Persian Coast, a summary of events in the region in the previous year including details regarding a cholera outbreak, an embargo on the export of wheat, the appearance of locusts, serious flooding in Shiraz and several other matters.

9. Persian Baluchistan and Mekran, a summary of developments in the region during the previous year including details of raids and violence on the Perso-Baluch frontier, a large fire at Gwadur and several other matters.

10. Slave Trade, a brief summary of the status of slave traffic in the region that reports no slave dhows were captured during the previous year.

11. Royal Navy Vessels, records movements of British Government ships in the region and reports that Captain J H Pelly of the H. M. S. Sphinx was Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. throughout the year with the exception of temporary intervals.

12. Political Appointments, reports details of changes in staff during the previous year including the appointment of John Calcott Gaskin as Extra Assistant Resident and Vice-Consul in June and Surgeon-Captain P Lumsden as 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. Surgeon also in June.

13. Observatory, points the reader to Appendix A (see below).

Part 1 contains the following Appendix: A) Table showing force and prevailing directions of winds and recorded rainfall at Bushire for the Year 1894-94 (folios 123v-124).

Part 2, is an Administration Report of the Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and Consulate for the Year 1893-94 written by Major James Hayes Sadler, 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. and Consul, Muscat (folios 125-126).

Part 3, is a Report on the Trade and Commerce of the Consular District of Bushire for the Year 1893 written by Fred A. Wilson, Consul General (folios 127-129). Appendix A to part 3 consists of 25 tabular charts related to trade and commerce in Bushire and the surrounding region (folios 129-136).

Part 4, is a report entitled 'Trade Statistics for 1893-4' written by Major James Hayes Sadler, 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. and Consul, Muscat (folios 137-142). The report contains a number of detailed tables related to trade to/from Muscat.

Part 5, is a Report on the Trade of Mohammerah for the Year 1893 (folio 143). The report contains a description of the state of trade in Mohammerah. Appendix A (folios 144-45) contains several tabular charts regarding imports and exports to/from Mohammerah and the surrounding region.

Extent and format
1 volume (30 folios)
Arrangement

The report is arranged into a number of sections and subsections, with statistic data in tabular format directly following written sections. There is a contents page at the front of the report (folio 117) which list the report's contents.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: There is a foliation sequence, which is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. It begins on the first folio, on number 116, and ends on the last folio, on number 145.

Pagination: The volume contains an original typed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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‘Administration report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for 1893-94’ [‎127v] (25/63), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/V/23/65, No 315, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023549737.0x00001b> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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