Skip to item: of 130
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

‘Report on the administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for 1884-85.’ [‎7v] (10/130)

The record is made up of 1 volume (63 folios). It was created in 1885. 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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

8
ADMINISTEATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
Ears requires a firm and united administration^ and at present dissensions and ill-feeling exist
amongst the members of the family clique, who share the central authority amongst them. The
present administration of Fars compares unfavourably with that of former years when His
Royal Highness the Motemid-ed-Dowlah was Governor General.
37. Sultan Muhammad Khan remains Eel-Khanee, and Darab Khan Eel-Begee of the
Kashgai Eeliyats.
38. The Governor of Bushire, Muhammad Husain Khan, son of the Sahib Diwan, was
Bushire. granted by the Shah the title of Motemin-el-Mulk.
39. The customs revenues of Bushire and its districts were managed by Muhammad Husain
Khan, who is Agent of the Ameen-es-Sultan.
40. In April orders were received by the Customs Commissioner from the Ameen-es-Sultan
forbidding him to accept receipts for payment of export duty on grain passed to foreign
merchants or their agents by Governors of other ports of Ears or Arabistan. The Governors
of Reeg, Deelam, &c., were then told by the Government of Ears to avoid passing receipts for
export duty, and to levy the amount under some other name, or in an indirect manner. The
matter having been referred to H. M/s Minister, stringent orders were issued by the Persian
Government to the Government of Ears to refund all duty levied in excess of 5 per cent, and
refrain from exacting double duty in future. In August several such overpayments were
refunded, but in spite of all orders and protests, British merchants still complain that in some
form or other they are subjected to double export duty on grain purchased for them at outports.
41. In July an affray occurred at Bushire between Persian soldiers and some people
of Dashti, who had come with the widow of Muhammad Khan, late Governor of Dashti. In
this affray a few lives were lost. The blame rested with the officiating Governor of Bushire.
42. Aga Muhammad Mehdi, the " Melek-et-Tujar, " of Bushire, having returned from a
tour in Europe, inaugurated some measures of a sanitary nature, and has also undertaken to
build a sea wall, to prevent the sea from flooding the plain outside the walls of Bushire.
43. In October Mr. R. C. Keun, Consul-General for Holland, returned to Bushire, havin^
been absent for several years.
44. The coast between Bushire and Lingah has enjoyed quiet during the year.
45. Lingah suffered from great scarcity of water until the autumn, when heavy showers
Lil '« ah - replenished the reservoirs. Several shocks of earthquake
were felt, but no damage occurred from them.
46. The Arab Deputy Governor was Shaikh Yoosnf,* who was immediately under Muham-
7tr MU T <1 T" r 5 '. mad Husain Khan ' Agent o£ the Amcen-es-Snltan, the Govern-
ment of Lingah and also Bunder Abbass being still severed from Ears.
47. A violent gale of wind with heavy rain burst over Ungah on 24th February, destroyine
and damaging many houses. J a
48. A quarrel occurred in March between the Chief of Lingah and the Chief of Charak
which, after nearly resulting in hostilities, was settled by mediation.
49. Bunder Abbass has been for the most part governed by Muhammad Husain Khan
Bunder Abbas personally, and his administration was satisfactory. Durino-
his absence, however, the proceedings of his agents were much complained of.
50 - The Hindu community were much agitated at the conversion of a Hindu fakir to
s am in Feb.nary and for some days they closed their shops. The case has been investio -ated
on the spot, and the convert having been examined at Bushire, it appeared that his conversion
s voluntary, and although there was strong suspicion of his having stolen valuables from
the Hindu temple proof of this was not forthcoming. The conduct of the Persian author
Ities was shewn to have been blameworthy, and at the Resident's suggestion Muhammad
6 ""'- 1 "~ —- - «■- ^
51. Mirza Ismail Khan, son of Muhammad Khan, Poreiau Ao,.„t „p si.;
pointed Foreign Office Agent at Bunder Abhass, but left for Shiraz in March. ^
52. Muhammad Husain Khan, Deputv Governor of BnnrW am j t-
Commissioner of Customs, resigned his posts in M-irol 1 ' i Lmgah and
Mirza, grandson of his lat Royal Highness the Rnkt! e I ^ M " hl — Husain
cesser in all his offices. 7 * ' Rukn - ed - dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. >»h, has been appointed his sue.

About this item

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 Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for the year 1884-85, published by Authority by the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta [Kolkata]. A copy of a letter from 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 Henry Mortimer Durand, Secretary to the Government of India (Foreign Department), dated 18 May 1885, is included in the report (folio 5), the original of which submitted the report to Government, under the following headings:

Part 1 ( General Summary ), written by Ross, dated 30 April 1885 (folios 6-11), containing summaries of local political affairs, and incidents or events of particular note for: Oman and the Pirate Coast; Bahrain; Nejd, El-Hasa [Al-Hasa] and El-Katr [Qatar]; Fars; Persian Arabistan; Persian Baluchistan; and Bassidore. The report also records a marked increase in the slave trade to the Gulf from Africa; summaries of changes in official personnel; British naval movements in the Gulf; and a summary of meteorological events observed at the Bushire observatory. Appendix A contains tabulated and graphical meteorological data for the year, supplied by the Bushire observatory.

Part 2 ( Administration Report of the Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for the year 1884-85 ), submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Barrett Miles, Her 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 at Muscat (folios 12-23), containing a summary of affairs at Muscat, and an additional short report on the revival of the slave trade between Muscat and Zanzibar, a likely result, suggests Miles, of the departure of HMS London from Zanzibar. Appendix A is a report of Miles’s visit to Ras Fartak. Appendix B is an historical sketch, also written by Miles, on the Portuguese in Eastern Arabia.

Part 3 ( Report on Trade for the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for 1884 ), written by Ross and dated April 1885 (folios 24-59), comprising a short summary of the year’s trade, with notes on: grain; opium; cotton; tobacco; imported goods; the increase in piece goods; sugar; the activities of European firms in the Gulf; steamers; the Dutch Commercial Treaty; trade routes; naphtha springs; and pearl fishing. Appendix A comprises tabulated data on import, exports and revenue, in the Gulf ports of Bushire, Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh], Bunder Abbass [Bandar-e ʻAbbās], Bahrain and the Arab (Oman) coast. An index to the trade tables can be found at folios 25-26.

Part 4 (Trade [at Muscat]), submitted by Miles (folios 59-66), comprising a short summary of the year’s trade at Muscat, and an appendix containing tabulated data on imports and exports at Muscat (listed by commodity), and the nationality and average tonnage of vessels visiting Muscat.

Extent and format
1 volume (63 folios)
Arrangement

The report is arranged into four numbered parts, with lettered appendices containing further reports and statistical data after each part.

Physical characteristics

Condition: Some tears and holes in the paper, but not sufficient to impair legibility. Fold-out at f 10.

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 4, and ends on the last folio, on number 66.

Pagination: The volume contains an original typed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

‘Report on the administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for 1884-85.’ [‎7v] (10/130), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/V/23/47, No 207, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023600941.0x00000c> [accessed 28 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

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_100023600941.0x00000c">‘Report on the administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for 1884-85.’ [&lrm;7v] (10/130)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023600941.0x00000c">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000358.0x000248/IOR_V_23_47_ No 207_0011.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

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_100000000358.0x000248/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image