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‘Report on the administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muskat Political Agency for the year 1879-80’ [‎306r] (42/161)

The record is made up of 1 volume (80 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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BESIDENCY AND MUSKAT rOLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOR 1879-80. . 31
The seventeen accepted were reported to have turned out very well, and
the following: year twenty more mules being required (one for No. 1, and
nineteen for No. 2 mountain batteries then in Quetta), the Adjutant-Gene
ral of the Bombay Army in November 1878 wrote recommending this
number to be procured from the same dealer if possible. The Political
Resident, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , was again addressed to this effect, and requested
to procure the twenty mules at the same rate as in the previous year,
viz Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 300. It was found, however, that the dealers had increased
their prices (probably owing to the rejection of the three mules of the last
batehat Kurrachee), and would not undertake the contract at a less
price than Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 350 per mule. As the second mountain battery, for
which the majority were required, was on service, and delay was
inexpedient, this price was authorized, and the same dealer at Shiraz
accepted the contract. The mules were delivered in Kurrachee at the
end of February 1879, and were all accepted, although four of them
were over the contract age.
Lastly, in October 1879, Major Probyn was deputed to purchase
mules in Persia for use in Afghanistan. His instructions were to pur
chase 400 mules for artillery purposes ; age between five and nine years;
Jie'ioht not under thirteen two and averaging fourteen to fourteen two
hands; girth fifty-five inches for all below fourteen hands, and sixty
inches for all above fourteen hands. He was also to purchase about
a,000 mules for transport purposes, size and standard not so high as for
artillery, but to be thoroughly efficient as pack animals.
Previous to Major Probyn's arrival, endeavours were made to collect
in Bushire a large number of mules for his approval. Batta An extra allowance of pay granted to soldiers involved in special field service or to public servants on special duty. at twelve
annas a day per mule had to be allowed to induce the muleteers to remain,
and about 700 were thus collected at a cost of about llupecs (3,000. Major
Probyn arrived on the 27th October, and out of this large number of
mules collected could only select and purchase seventy-six at an average
price of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 216. On the 1st November he proceeded to Shiraz, and
between the 13th November and 3rd December succeeded in purchasing
at that place 267 mules at an average price of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 182. Major
Probyn then returning to Busbire embarked for Baghdad alter buying
thirteen more mules in Bushire at an average price of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 2U. He
remained in Baghdad meeting with but indifferent succegs, until Apn
1880, when he went to Shuster, and there purchased 2o^ mules at an
average of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 181 per mule. Major Probyn had every prospect oi
being able to secure large numbers of mules in Shuster, when the purchase
of mules was stopped on 7th April, and he was recalled to n la.
In February, as the purchase of mules had been proceeding slowly
and speed was required. Major Probyn recommended the apP oinfc ment ol
Mr. J. R. Preece, Superintendent on the Persian Telegraph Line, to p
chase mules in Shiraz. This appointment was sanctioned, and d g
the couple of months before the purchase of mu es ^ „oo
succeeded in obtaining 850 mules at an average price o u l )e , n
of these were for artillery, and 470 of the remainder mea
hands and over. , _ r-
An export duty of 5 per cent, on all mules shipped
was charged by the Persian authorities, but at Mohamm ,

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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 Muskat [Muscat] Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1879-80, published by Authority at the Foreign Department Press, India (Calcutta), and forming part of the Selections from the Records of the Government of India, Foreign Department (No. 171) 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 preceded by a copy of a letter sent by Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Charles 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. , to A. C. Lyall, Secretary to the Government of India, dated 30 June 1880, which enclosed the submission of the original reports to the Government of India (folios 290-91).

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

1. General Report for 1879-80 , prepared by Ross (folios 291-308), which is divided a number of small reports, organised by region, as follows: 1. ’Omán or Muskat State; 2. Pirate Coast; 3. El-Bahrain; 4. Nejd, El-Hasá [Al-Hasa] and El-Katr [Qatar]; 5. Southern Persia; and 6. Bassidore [Bāsa‘īdū]. The reports detail the state of local affairs in each region, including relations between tribes and rulers, disease, incidents of piracy, migrations. The report for Southern Persia contains a separate report for Fars. The report for Bassidore includes reports on: political appointments; royal naval activity, postal affairs; observatory activity; and administration of the trade in mules in Persia. Four appendices follow the report: A. List of Guttur (or El-Katr) [Qatar] ports and names of chiefs and main tribes; B. Terms of a mutual agreement entered into by the Trucial Chiefs of the Oman Coast through the medium of Hajee Abul Kassim, Moonshee, specially deputed on this service, and Hajee Abdur Rahman, Government Agent, Arab coast, dated 24 June 1879; C. tabulated meteorological data from the Bushire 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. Observatory; D. Notes upon the breeding, treatment, etc., of the Persian mule, and upon Persia as a source of supply for mules, written by Lieutenant I MacIvor, Assistant 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. .

2. A Memoir on Nejd , prepared by Ross (folios 308-21), comprising an outline history of the Wahábees [ 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. ] of Nejd and the Ál-Su’ood [Āl Sa‘ūd] Amirs, from 1691 to the present day, and a number of appendices: A. Genealogical of the Āl Sa‘ūd; B. List of principal districts and towns of Nejd; C. Tribes of Nejd; D. List of authorities and sources of information availed of in preparing Memoir of Nejd .

3. Report on trade for 1879, prepared by Ross, dated 26 May 1880 (folios 321-56), comprising a summary of the year’s harvest and trade; the Commercial Treaty; customs duty; assistance to vessels in distress; prohibition export of specie exceptions; notice of prohibition of export of produce; mercantile tribunals; protection of British subjects; introduction of industrial machinery and agricultural implements. Three appendices follow: A. Report on the salt caves and mines and the trade in salt in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , written by the Assistant Surgeon, Abder Raheem, Bassidore, 20 March 1880; B. Tabulated list of productions [summer and winter agricultural planting) of Fars; C. Tabulated trade statistics, indicating the quantity and values of imports and exports in the region, lists of goods traded, and nationality and tonnage of trading vessels.

4. 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 1879-80 , prepared by Major Charles Grant, His Britannic Majesty’s 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 357-65), comprising: an overview of the political situation in Muscat, changes in British personnel at the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ; the slave trade; marine events; and trade. An appendix of tabulated trade statistics follows the report, detailing nationality and tonnage of vessels visiting Muscat, and lists of imports and exports.

Extent and format
1 volume (80 folios)
Arrangement

The report is arranged into a number of parts and sections, with tabulated statistical data directly following written sections. There is a contents page at the front of the report (folios 288-89), which refers to the report’s internal 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 285 and ends on the last folio, on number 364.

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 1879-80’ [‎306r] (42/161), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/V/23/37, No 171, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023580190.0x00002c> [accessed 25 April 2024]

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