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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [‎20v] (45/128)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (60 folios). It was created in 1909. It was written in English and French. 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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rnamm
4
and Clialibar by British India boats. How
ever, they do not like to do this in large
numbers as it would create suspicion.
The party now divides up, the majority
remaining at or going to Bandar Abbas
while a few, among whom are the leaders,
go to Jashk, Chahbar or some port in the
vicinity. The men at Bandar Abbas
either remain quietly there until the pur
chasers have completed their business, or
else—as is usually the case—they wait for
the arrival of caravans from Afghanistan
and secure the necessary camel trans
port. When they have collected the
camels, and they think that the rifles may
be shortly expected, they move down the
coast and lie up in places where there is
good grazing near the expected landing
places.
The leaders who have gone to Jasbk,
Chahbar or other ports close by, enlist
the sendees of the local Baluch Sardars.
They agree to pay the Baluch Sardars a
fixed rate for each rifle landed, and in
return for this the Sardars arrange for a
sailing boat for the crossing to Masqat,
provide them with one of their own men
as a guide, and advise them as to where
to land their arms. Frequently one or
two of the party remain on the Persian
side—say at Jashk—to complete arrange
ments there and to keep in touch with the
rest of the party at Bandar Abbas.
The headmen and the guide then em
bark for Masqat, but they usually make
for Batinah or Barkah, or some other small
port above Masqat, and then bear down the
coast to Masqat. If starting from Chah
bar they may make first for Quryat, Jalan
and Sur, small ports east of Masqat. This
especially applies to Baluchi traders. (The
Baluchis sometime cross from Jashk or
Chahbar by steamer, the Afghans seem
to go by dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. always.)
In Masqat the Afghans have to try to
keep clear of any spies the British Consul
may have in his pay, and they usually
wear Baluch clothes, but the risk is very
slight as everyone, even those in consulate
employ, is more or less openly favourable
Our man gives the following figures :—
60% book to Bandar Abbas.
20% „ Gwadar, Chahbar and Jashk>
20 % „ Lingeh, Bushire and Basrah*

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Content

Bound volume containing two secret reports, both authored by Colonel Wilfrid Malleson (referred to as Division of the Chief of the Staff in the first report, and Assistant Quarter Master General for Intelligence in the second), and both issued by the Division of the Chief of the Staff in 1909.

The first report is entitled Statistics regarding the Masqat [Muscat] Arms Traffic (Revised.) (ff 4-16), and contains several appendices and fold-out tables giving details of: caravan routes along which arms trafficking is carried out on the Makran coast; total values of arms and ammunition imported into Muscat and other Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports; importers and (European) exports of arms.

The second report is entitled Special Reports on the Masqat Arms Traffic, Season 1908-09 (ff 17-60), and comprises a number of reports on the arms trade through Muscat, submitted by ‘secret agents’, and a map illustrating the arms traffic from Muscat to Persia, Baluchistan and Afghanistan (f 59). The report also includes two appendices, lettered G and H. Appendix G is a letter (in French) dated 28 October 1907, from M Pick to Messieurs Malcom and Company of Muscate [Muscat]. Appendix H comprises lists (in French) of arms for sale, with prices given in French francs.

The voluime includes a map illustrating the Muscat arms traffic, dated 1909, indicating routes taken by the Muscat arms trade from the Persian (Makran) coast and inland, into Persia, Baluchistan and Afghanistan (f 59).

Extent and format
1 volume (60 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 62; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: this part also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [‎20v] (45/128), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/289/A, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100049315702.0x00002e> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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