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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [‎34v] (73/128)

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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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usually given a rifle or two as c bakhshish/
and lor this they supply a few sheep and
goats for food and men to show the caravan
the road. The Afghans bury a few cheap
rifles in Masqat for this purpose.
Once in Afghanistan they have to pay
nothing. No tolls or duties are levied
upon them, and it appears that the hakims
and toll collectors do not even dare to
levy the usual bribes. I believe, though,
that an occasional hakim is presented with
a rifle.
The Afghan traders themselves say that
it cost them Rs. 20 per rifle and its com
plement of cartridges by the time they
have got to Kabul. This is all expenses
including their own food, but naturally
this must vary greatly (and in inverse
ratio) with the number of rifles they are
importing. The examples our men quote
are mostly for small traders importing
from 200 — 300 rifles.
Their expenses per rifle work out as
follows
Rs.
A.
p.
Paid to Baluch Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. for help
1
8
0
Paid to boatmen and hire of dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
1
0
0
Paid to guide
0
8
0
Paid to fitting out camel with saddle,
ropes, etc.
1
0
0
Paid to camel driver at Rs. 20 per
camel of 20 rifles
= 1
0
0
Paid as cost of camel at Rs. 120 to
Rs. 160 each carrying 20 rifles
=8
0
0
Paid as bribes and minor expenses at
Masqat
1
0
0
Paid as bribes to Baluch Sardars inland
and Afghan Hakims in rifles, say, at
1
0
0
Per rifle
15
0
0
Supposing that the man has bought 250
rifles, the above charges will come to
Rs. 3,750, and at Rs. 20 per rifle it would
total Rs. 5,000. This leaves Rs. 1,250 un
accounted for.
Out of this has to come his journey to
Karachi and thence to Gulf ports and his
own food on the whole trip. And if i n
addition he has had to borrow some of his
capital and pay interest, commission, etc.,

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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.’ [‎34v] (73/128), 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_100049315702.0x00004a> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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