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‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1899/1900’ [‎281v] (36/150)

The record is made up of 1 volume (60 folios). It was created in 1900. 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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28
ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
But notwithstanding this great difference in the ratio per cent, of deaths to attacked in the
two places, there was only a very slight difference in the ratio per cent, of deaths to the
general population, so that whilst in Maskat out of every hundred persons 2-7 died from
cholera, in Matrah 3 out of every hundred persons died from that cause. The greatest rate of
mortality in proportion to attacks was among the Persians who live principally in the suburb
of Jabru. Next to them in the order of ratio per cent, of deaths to attacked come the IndiaQ
Muhammadans other than Khojas, among whom, however, the attacks were so few that it
would be unreasonable to compare their result with that of the attacks among the other races
in the same manner as it would be unfair to include in the comparison the result of the two'
solitary attacks among the Hindus, which beside being so few occurred at a stage of the
epidemic when most of the cases recover. Just as the general ratio per cent, of deaths to
attacked compares favourably with that in Maskat, so also do the rates of mortality araono-
the principal racial classes excepting the Africans who had 8 percent, more deaths amoro-
them in Matrah than in Maskat. The Arabs had only 36-6 per "cent, of deaths against 631
per cent, in Maskat and the Baluchis 52 , 2 per cent, against per cent, in Maekat. The
only reason that I can think of in explanation of this great difference is what I have alreadv
suggested above when dealing with the general cholera mortality in Matrah. I q regard to
age and sex, the ratio per cent, of deaths to attacked was much greater among children than iu
adults, and also much greater among men than among women, which latter circumstance is
remarkable in the face of the fact that the attacks among men were fewer than amono- women
It appears, therefore, that the severity of the disease as indicated by the rate of mortalit *
was much greater, as in Maskat, among men than among women. ^
In regard to the localities, the highest rate of mortality actually occurred in the suburb
o£ Jabru, the original centra of infection, which is inhabited principally by the two poorest clas
—the Mekrani Baluchis and Persian beggars, though the alarming rate of lUO per cent
shown against Matiah Haiboui in the statement No. VJ, which circumstance needs a littl
explanation as it is likely to give an erroneous idea. The only three cases noted 5;s having
occurred in harbour were registered from information received when the dead bodies w "
brought for burial on shore, but as there was no registration of cases occurring on bolrd fT
vessels in the harbour no information is available in regard to such cases'as mav have
recovered. Nazi Moya and Takia, two of the quarters of the town mostly occuoied b v
Africans, also show a very high rate of mortality, whilst the bazar and Kitleh quarters a nd
the Khoja fort, in each of which the ratio of deaths to attacked was only 25 per cent sh™,
the lowest rate of mortality. In the case of the Khoja fort it may be noted that beside' ho\Z
inhabited by a community in good circumstances, all the cases in it were under mv dirpl
treatment. * ulieLC
As no account of the mode of treatment of cholera adopted by the Arabs of Dmnn v.
Treatment. hitherto been given, I think that a short note t
the subject may not be considered out of place here.
Actual cautery, the great Arab panacea, occupies, as may be expected, a foremost nlace
in the treatment ot cholera m the same way as it does now in the treatment of nla»n. n „,i
the instrument generally used in carrying out this therapeutic measure is as primit.ve in i^
conception as the measure itself. A small sickle, such as gardeners use, is heated in the fire
and with its hack two lines, each about two inches in length, are marked out horizontallv'
one a httle above the navel and the other a little below it ; a similar line is then mXd
antero-posteriorly on the top of the head in its middle. It ivould seem as if the Arabs are
practically aware ot the beneficial effects of acids in cholera, for soon after the above operatL
of branding a draught composed of the juice ot three or four fresh limes, about t^o drachms
and a Uule Wiiter etven 0 t(f'rT f «*«). - Pi-hful of charcoal aZ
and a little water is given to drink; when fresh limes are not procurable, dried limes are
pounded w tb a little water and substituted for them. Following this Arab idea, I found the
administration of the juice of fresh lime, mixed with a little water and sugar as often as the
patient required It a very agreeable and beneficial remedy tor the intense thirst present in
the eaily stage of the disease. Ihe safar in the draught acts as an aromatic and carminative
but ! fail to see the value of ashes; in fact I should think that the ashes would partlv
nentrahze the acidity cf the juice of limes. This draught is repeated after every
nntil hve o six doses aie given. Sherbet made with rose -water is given repeatedly and in
I.Ta q n7 s rsrof hnSi^l 94 ' ^ at the ^ of ^ e ~° n -ties"
f i i. f u . ^ n stomach supervene, repeated bathing in cold water even in
the stage o collapse, is resorted to. For suppression of mine the most common remedv is a
decoction o the leaves and broken pieces ot the stem oi gamaian known to the Arabs bv the
^rl m ? de by ^ ^ ^
Another common remedv fnr" * ■ S re P eated ' lE necessary, after two hours.
leaves and fine branches of . unne , 1S V' 0 ! d P ouUiee made ot th « fr esh bruised
the region of the bladder and klpTThe^for lo "t t which is applied over
occasionally resorted to fm , • f for about two hours. Sitting m hot water is also
flowers of the date-palm) madTb? the 1 Urme - of the male
doses of about two ounces and a half 1°^ m 1S ^ dmimst ^ ed internally in
burning sensation in the stomach Dnrino- f 1 a 008 ^ . w ! 1 wa ter, for relieving the
remedy for suppression of urine,tlit^ofTt Wn^ieSr ^i^r P%ed ^ 3

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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 1899-1900, 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 Summary (folios 268-71) written 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. , Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm John Meade:

  • Section 1: entitled General , includes: a report on the year’s rainfall and harvest; the Governorship of Bushire; public peace and tranquillity in and around Bushire; public health and measures to restrict cholera and the plague in the Gulf; Persian currency; customs house arrangements in Bushire; compensation claims; and the Resident’s tours through the region during the year;
  • 2: Oman – Muscat: including: a change in personnel, with the role of 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. being taken over by Captain Percy Zachariah Cox from Major Christopher George Forbes Fagan; the Sultan of Muscat’s finances; French proposals to construct a coal depot in Muscat; use of the French flag by Muscat vessels; association of the French flag with the arms and slave trades; the impact of cholera and plague in the region;
  • 3. Oman – Pirate coast, including: a list of the those shaikhs in the region who have met with the Resident in the past year; Arab-Persian relations over Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh], and the expulsion of Persians from that port; the discovery of a large pearl at Kumzār and its subsequent sale for a lower-than-expected price; the prevalence of smallpox on the Arab coast;
  • 4. Bahrain, including: the wounding of two British-Indian subjects; difficulties discharging cargoes in Bahrain; and the death of Aga Muhummad Rahim, the Native News Agent in Bahrain;
  • 5. El-Nejd, with no report due to the recommendation that no one be deputed to travel there;
  • 6. Koweit [Kuwait]: no particulars reported;
  • 7. Persian Arabistan: the navigation of the Kārūn river, and opening up of river and land routes for trade;
  • 8. Fars and Persian coast: Bandar-e Lengeh in Persian hands; the arrival of the British Vice-Consul for Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās];
  • 9. Persian Baluchistan: delays in compensation claims against the murder of Mowladad Khan; a change in the Directorship of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs Department; rumours of a revolt against the Shah in Persian Baluchistan;
  • 10. Slave Trade: numbers of slave captured and manumitted during the year;
  • 11. Piracy: cases of piracy reported during the year, with details of where and against whom they were committed;
  • 12. Navy: details of the movements of British naval vessels (Sphinx, Lapwing and Pigeon) and significant foreign vessels, including Russian warship Gilyak;
  • 13. Official Changes: changes in British personnel;
  • 14. Changes among foreign representatives, with particular reference to German, French and Dutch representatives.

An appendix to part 1 (folios 272-75) includes statistical tables comprising meteorological data for the region; dispensaries in Bushire and data for the numbers of patients, diseases, surgical operations and income and expenditure of the 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. dispensary.

Part 2 (folios 276-78) is a separate report from the Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , written by Cox, with reports on events in Muscat, Rostak [Rustāq], Sohar, Soor [Sur], and Dhofar [Z̧ufār], including: accidental shootings by Wahabee [ 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. ] tribesmen; the appearance in Muscat of cholera and the plague; British and foreign naval movements in Muscat; and a statistical overview of manumission applications heard at the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .

Appendix A to Part 2 (folios 278v-85) is a detailed report with statistical data on the cholera epidemic in Muscat and Oman, written by the Lieutenant-Colonel Atmaram Sadashiv Jayakar, Chief Surgeon at Muscat. Jayakar’s report contains historical data on outbreaks of cholera in Muscat, symptoms of the disease, mortality statistics, treatment and its results, preventative and sanitation measures. Civil hospital and dispensary statistics follow on folios 285v-287v.

Part 3 (folios 288) is a trade report of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for 1899, written by Meade. Its appendices (folios 289-328) comprise tables showing the value of all goods imported and exported to and from various parts of the Gulf region, and the numbers of vessels (with figures on tonnage) of various nationalities plying their trade in the region in each port.

Part 4 (folios 329-30) is a separate trade report with statistical data for Muscat for 1899-1900.

Part 5 (folios 331-35) is a trade report for Mohammerah [Khorramshahr] and the Kārūn river for the year 1899.

Extent and format
1 volume (60 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 (f. 267) which lists the report’s contents in alphabetically ascending order, and refers to the report’s own pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1899/1900’ [‎281v] (36/150), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/V/23/77, No 379, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023626792.0x000026> [accessed 23 April 2024]

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