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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [‎43r] (90/128)

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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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49
Destination of Rifles.
Feeling against British officials-
Rifles and Prices-
* British Government pattern usually
marked N. S. W.
by flic Afridis. The cheap rifles were pur
chased by the Afghans, the Afridis would
not look at them. Most of these will
probably be sold in Herat and Afghan
Turkistan.
10. It appears that very little of this
year’s trade will go to Kabul, which is
fairly well stocked. Jan Muhammad, son
of Nurakai, and the Adam Khel, will
bring their rifles to the Peshawar
border via Kabul, but the bulk of the Af
ghan trade will go to Herat, Afghan
Turkistan, Ghazni, Urghun, and the Khost
and Jadran border.
Aupo, Ahmad Jan, Naibat Khan, Ab
dulla Khan (Kandahari) are all big mer
chants who are going to take their rifles to
Herat by the Amir’s orders. They own
at least 3,000 rifles. The Kabul market
seems to be well-stocked, and the best prices
are not to be expected there.
11. There seems to be no intention on the
part of the Afghans to take any revenge on
our officials in south-east Persia for previous
losses and attempts to interfere with their
trade. Their main desire is to get their
arms in Afghanistan with as little trouble
as possible.
They seem to look upon the losses
caused by gun-boats as all in the day’s
work, and they are prepared to take this
fair sporting risk. The Afghans said
that, if we stopped them from booking at
Karachi and Bombay and forced them to
go all the way round by land, then they
would attack our telegraph station at Jashk.
12. The following are the descriptions
and prices of the rifles most in favour
this year. Ks.
(1) Martini-Henry (Tajdar)* .. 53
(2) Martini-Henry stamped with a
crown on each side .. .. 51
(3) As No. 2, only carbine size with
wood to end of stock. (The
“ Dixon ” of Agent “ A’s ” report) 40
(4) Mauser rifles magazine, 5 rounds 133
(5) Martini-Metford carbine .. 72
(6) An old pattern rifle like the
Snider, only with narrower opening
at the breech and known amongst
the Afghans as the “ Sultani ” 10
14 LB.

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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.’ [‎43r] (90/128), 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_100049315702.0x00005b> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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