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‘Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muskat Political Agency for the year 1878-79.’ [‎118r] (42/146)

The record is made up of 1 volume (72 folios). It was created in 1880. 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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^DMSS, \
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 MUSKAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOR 1 878-79. 31
32. The most promising project in view to facilitating and stimu
lating the commerce of Persia to the
Opportunities for extension of ig undoubtedly that which has
British trade. ^een the subject of prolonged discussion,
the opening of the Karoom river, and of a caravan line from Shuster to
Ispahan. Whilst the immediate object which is expected to be attained
is shortening and cheapening transit communication between the sea
and Ispahan^ the central mart for north and south Persia, a second
scarcely less fruitful result would be the extensive trade which would
almost certainly be inaugurated at the same time with the richly pro
ductive districts from Disful northwards, bringing Persian Irak within
the sphere of our commerce. The difficulties experienced in obtaining
the necessary concessions for carrying out the operations so advantageous
to Persia are characteristic. The present route to Ispahan from Bushire
through Shiraz is very roundabout. A much shorter line would be
from Deelam through Behbahan, to Kumesha and Ispahan. It is
probably more the wildness of the inhabitants than the physical difficul
ties which have prevented the use of such a route.
33. It is said that a line from Ram Hormuz to Ispahan would
present few formidable physical difficulties were the time ripe for con
struction of a railroad.
(Sd.) E. C. ROSS, Lieutenant- Colonel,
Resident, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Memorandum on the Opium of Persia.
For the last two years the Persians have shown unprecedentedly great
activity in extending and improving the cultivation and growth of
opium in the country. The heavy losses which they suffered on more
than one occasion from their badly prepared and adulterated stuff,
and the tempting profits which they found were obtainable from
better produce, have apparently impelled them to the course now
taken. While a few years ago a case of Persian opium weighing 18
Tabreez mun, or 140 lbs., would not fetch in China more than 280
to 350 dollars, it has recently realized from 500 to 615 dollars.
This change cannot of course be attributed altogether to the improve
ment in the quality of the Persian drug, as prices are regulated by the
state of the Indian produce and by the demand in the China
markets. The Bengal and Malwa crops failed in the last two years
owing to drought and other circumstances, and the limited outturn,
coupled with heavy speculation, tended towards the increase of prices.
The prospect of the crops of the current year is said to be favourable, but
the trade in opium is not expected to be very remunerative.
To return to the Persian opium, from the time the attention of the
native merchants was attracted to the trade in this article, about 25 years
ago there has been, with two or three exceptions, a gradual annual increase
in the production of the drug. But this increase has never before been
eo very considerable as to become prominently noticeable.

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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. Political 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 Muskat [Muscat] Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1878-79, published by the Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India (Calcutta), forming part of the 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 Report (folios 102-107) written by Edward Charles Ross, Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. that gives a summary of developments in the region during the past year. It is divided up as follows:

1. 'Oman;

2. Arab Coast;

3. Bahrain;

4. Nejd, El Hasa [Al Hasa], El Katr [Qatar];

5. Southern Persia;

6. Bassidore [Bāsa‘īdū];

7. Establishments;

8. Slave Trade.

Part 1 contains the following appendices (folios 107v-115):

Appendix A: contains a number of meteorological tables in Bushire and Shiraz during the previous year.

Appendix B: 'Description of the Bahrain Islands' by Captain Edward Law Durand, First Assistant Resident, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .

Appendx C: 'Memorandum on the Topography, &c., of Khuzistan or Persian Arabia, by P J C Robertson, Esq., 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. , Busrah [Basra].

Part 2 , is a Report on Trade of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for 1878 (folios 116-119) written by Edward Charles Ross, Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . It also contains a Memorandum on the Opium of Persia written by George Lucas, Uncovenanted Assistant 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .

Part 2 contains the following appendices (folios 119v-159):

Appendix A: Memorandum on cultivation of a village in one of the Boolooks (districts) of Shiraz.

Appendix B: Three tables related to the number of vessels engaged in trade in Oman, Bahrain and from Lingah to Dayer.

Appendix C: A series of 29 tabular statements relating to numerous aspects of trade in the region.

Part 3 , is an Administration Report of the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Muskat, for the year 1878-79 (folio 159v-160) written by Samuel Barrett Miles, 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, Muskat. The report provides a summary of developments in Muskat and the surrounding region during the previous year.

Part 3 contains the following appendix:

Appendix A: 'Memorandum on Geography of 'Oman' by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Barrett Miles, 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, Muskat.

Part 4 , is a Muskat Trade report written by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Barrett Miles, 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, Muskat (folios 162v-169). The report contains a number of tabular statements related to trade to/from Muskat during the previous year.

Extent and format
1 volume (72 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 (folios 100-101) that lists the report's contents and uses the report's own pagination sequence.

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 98, and ends on the last folio, on number 169.

Pagination: The volume contains an original typed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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‘Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muskat Political Agency for the year 1878-79.’ [‎118r] (42/146), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/V/23/36, No 165, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023578314.0x00002c> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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