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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [‎48r] (100/128)

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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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59
Landing of Patlians direct from steamers at
Masqat.
REPORT OF SECRET AGENTS B. ”
AND “ D.”
Pathans travelling either up or down
the Gulf manage to land at Masqat direct
from the steamer in one of the following
ways. At Bombay or Karachi, if they
can disguise the fact that they are Pathanj
and can pass themselves off as Panjab b
or Hindustanis, they can book direct to
Masqat. This is not very difficult. Our
two men, who are both Pathans, w r ore Pan
jabi clothes, and without disclosing the fact
that they were travelling on Government
duty took tickets to Masqat without ques
tions being raised.
When the steamer reaches Masqat the
quarantine doctor with his native assistant
and some chaprassis comes on board. He
is given a list of the native passengers to
Masqat, and they are taken off to four days’
quarantine by the native assistant.
At the present time this man is one
iSaivid Mukhdum Shah, and he Las dis
covered many ways of turning the quaran
tine regulations and the gun-trade to his
own advantage. If made worth his while
he will allow natives who are supposed to
be in quarantine to go off for three days,
and they put in an appearance on the
afternoon of the fourth just in time for the
final inspection by the British doctor. He
also takes advantage of the fact that the
quarantine staff are the only Government
officials on the spot who could possibly
make things objectionable for any Pathans
trying to land. Mukhdum Shah at once re
cognised agent “D” as a Pathan, and threat
ened to report him unless squared. Rs. 20
to Mukhdum Shah and Rs. 3 to each cliap-
rassi smoothed the way, and no more ques
tions were asked.
Many other Pathans who have booked
to other ports also manage to land at
Masqat. As soon as the steamer comes to
anchor there it is at once surrounded by
a lot of small boats. Gun merchants’
touts come on board from them, and they
and the native quarantine officials wander
about among the native passengers look-
in» for likely Pathans. They quietly

About this item

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.’ [‎48r] (100/128), 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_100049315702.0x000065> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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