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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [‎40v] (85/128)

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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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44
several consignments. As soon as they reach
the Makran Coast they show their papers to
Earkat Khan, or one of the other Baluch
Sardars, and lie at once informs the owners
The dhows are unloaded at once. If the
owners and camels are on the spot the rifles
are taken off immediately to their lying up
place, and if the owners are not present they
are stored in the nearest villagei, As the
actual landing place depends on v ind, tide,
gun-boats, etc., it frequently happens that
the rifles are landed many miles up or down
the coast from where they were expected.
All difficulty and risk of loss is prevented,
by the assistance at once rendered by the
Baluch Sardars.
6 . As mentioned above, Afghans who
have gone direct to Masqat without enlist
ing the help of one of the Baluch Sardars can
hue their boats and make all other arrange
ments for the crossing through the Masqat
merchants. However, the majority em
ploy the Bduch Sardars, and in any care
the help of the latter men will be necessary
when once the rifles have reached the
Makran Coast.
The Afghans usually have to make a
separate payment for the hire of a boat from
the Makran Coast to Masqat. The ordinary
hire isRs. 120 for this single journey. For
the return journey with arms the usual
charge is Re. 1 per rifle. Owners of small
consignments of arms may have to pay
more if they are not prepared to wait for
the full cargo to be made up with other peo
ple’s purchases. Sometimes the nakhudas
make up the full freight with other goods.
The Masqat merchants make the same
charge of Re. 1 per rifle when dhows are
arranged through them.
Arab nakhudas are to be found willing
to take arms at 8 annas per rifle, but they
are not considered reliable, and the Afghans
prefer to deal with the rtakhudas from
the Makran side over whom, through the
Baluch Sardars, they have much more
control.
Pistols are usually shipped free if in small
proportion to the number of rifles. This is
Hire of Boats.

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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.’ [‎40v] (85/128), 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_100049315702.0x000056> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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