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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [52r] (108/128)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
67
Sultan and encouragement to arms tra de-
African Trade*
Arabian Trade.
been given (Dadar, Isa Khan and Haibat
Khan). These were some of the men who
came over to Masqat, but in addition to
them the rifles also belonged to the follow
ing men who remained on the Persian
coast:—Mauladad, Musa, Paigor, Afzal
Khan, and Abdul Karim.
Whenever Baluch Sardars cross to
Masqat they are well entertained by the
Sultan, and on their departure he usually
gives each of them a good rifle as a personal
present and a cheap rifle to each of their
servants. When Barkat Khan came over
in March the Sultan gave him 6 Martini-
Henry rifles. The Sultan wishes to en
courage the Sardars who help the Afghan
gun merchants.
At Sur, the port on the Arab Coast below
Masqat, a very large type of bagala is kept.
The owners of these mainly trade in
dates and dred fish from Masqat and rice
from Bombay. Their boats can carry
3,000 sacks as cargo. Many of these men
sell a portion of their cargo at Masqat and
buy rifles, which they take over to the
African coast. Our men heard that they
trade with Zanzibar and the Somali coast
and also with the Aaman.
When in fear of being searched they
fly the French flag.
At Masqat they generally deal with Jai
Ram, bunia, who is one of Damodar’s
agents.
The Arab trade was very slack at this
time of year. Only a few individuals
were coming into Masqat and taking off
2 or 3 rifles. The Arab trade is brisk
during the date season. They appa
rently make their livelihood out of dates,
and at this time of year they come
in large numbers by sea with boat loads
of dates. They dispose of these and buy
rifles. They take away rifles openly from
Masqat. They mostly go to Kuwait or
Dibai, and from there the rifles are sold
into the interior; a good many also
find their way over to Persia. Our men
beheve that the Arab trade is bigger than
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 View the complete information for this record
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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [52r] (108/128), 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_100049315702.0x00006d> [accessed 25 April 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/289/A
- Title
- ‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:35v, 38v:61v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence