'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [89r] (188/474)
The record is made up of 1 volume (233 folios). It was created in 23 Dec 1926-22 Dec 1931. It was written in English and Arabic. 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.
sent to Shaikh Muhaiamad at Dhanic and to Ibn Hillol at
Biraimi with an offer on lay part to come and interview them
alone leaving the party at FJLtnafeu jbur or five days
elapsed before the latter messengers returned: their
answers were evasive or unsatisfactory (f ee Appendices il
and F) . Meanwhile came better news from Biraimi.
xevious accounts of tribal submission to Ibn 5aud had, it
appeared, been exaggerated, the Agent - luhammad bin ilansur •
was stated to have given no encouragement to the Biraimi
opposition to us, and Pa’id, son of the British yent Isa
bin Abdul Latif was reported to have arrived from Abu Dhabi
with letters from Shaikh Baqar bin iiaid directing Dhuwahir
to co-operate with us. I at once despatched another
messenger to Ibn Killal in the belief that the juot Abu
Dhabi gesture was an honest one. he Biraimi messenger
returned with news that before his arrival Sa’id had return-
-ed, unsmccessful, to ^bu Dhabi, but it was also rumoured
that Ibn Saud’s /gent had left Biraiai hurriedly after a
break with an AX B» f>HAMX& Shaikh. Ibn Hiilal in his
reply repeated his powerlessnesa to help and then proceeded
to show his hand and betray his master by adding that if
the R.A.F. party remained at Kitnah for long the ha’im
would come and attack us (Appendix G). Clearly the
opposition was localised. DHtTWAHXB was acting in coll-
-usion with HA*IM, a course they could only take with iBU
DHABI*3 connivance. his clarifying of the situation
was not without effect on our Bani Ka'ab escort who were
further reassured by the rumours of a less successful sakat
collection this year than on the previous occasion. ho
useful purpose would have been served by our remaining at
Kitnah, and Shaikh Salim was now faced with xhx having to
support us outright or the contrary alternative. Angered
by Ha’im’s recent ftouting of his tribe, he decided he could
now identify himself with us whole-heartedly. cur
negotiating
About this item
- Content
The volume contains correspondence related to the Air Staff Intelligence, Air Headquarters, Baghdad’s request for information to be obtained from Muscat regarding the possible establishment of a subsidiary air route from Iraq to India via the Arabian side of the Gulf. The required information was concerning the straight line Mirfah-Biraimi-Khaburah. Arrangements were made for some Royal Air Force (RAF) representatives to visit the region accompanied by a doctor, and Bertram Sidney Thomas, Financial Advisor to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.
The correspondence contains information on the estimates of the cost of the journey including hire of camels; cost of feeding men and camels; presents to be given to the Shaikhs; wages and foodstuffs, coffee etc.
Letters were sent to various Shaikhs and Walis in Sohar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Baraimi [Buraimi] and other regions, asking them to assist the Royal Air Officers while conducting their work. The correspondence contains letters of certain Shaikhs such as Shaikh Salim bin Diyin [Dayyin] Al-Ka‘bi and Shaikh ‘Isa bin Salih Al-Ḥārithī [Al Harthi] negotiating the terms for them to accept the RAF work to take place. It also contains reports about the troubles made by some of the Bedouin tribes.
Bertram Sidney Thomas reported on his observation on the proposed seaplane flight along the south Arabian coast. He also sent a report (ff 82- 130) to the Sultan and the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. on the proceedings of the RAF Trans-Oman Expedition which he conducted from Sohar to Sharjah between 12 May and 3 June 1927. The report is in two parts covering the following: preliminary situation; itinerary of expedition; description of country passed through; tribal situation and Ibn Saud; personalities; tribal considerations and the air route.
The volume also includes correspondence with the Sultan of Socotra regarding the construction of landing ground in his territory near Qishn. It also includes correspondence about the Air Ministry’s interest in extending the reconnaissance to establish landing grounds along the southern coast of Arabia.
Among other correspondents in the volume are: the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Muscat; Muscat and Oman, Council of Ministers; and C Hilton Keith, Squadron Leader RAF, Sohar.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (233 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 229; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [89r] (188/474), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/86, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066728591.0x0000bd> [accessed 9 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/6/86
- Title
- 'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.'
- Pages
- 72r:73v, 79r:130v, 135r:135v, 141r:143v, 163r:166v, 174r:174v, 178r:180v, 204r:206v
- Author
- Thomas, Bertram Sidney
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact [email protected] with any information you have regarding this item.
!['File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [‎89r] (188/474) 'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [‎89r] (188/474)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000831.0x0002de/IOR_R_15_6_86_0188.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg)