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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [11r] (20/949)
The record is made up of 1 file (475 folios). It was created in 7 Nov 1901-23 Aug 1905. It was written in English. 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.
3
Muliarrem, which at present begins in March. Native weaving industries
are of little account, and the trade in yarns is not important.
For woollen and silk goods tliere is only a limited demand.
A few articles of continental manufacture, probably from Bombay, are
found in the bazaars of Muscat, but no information was obtained of
direct business with the continent.
Exports.
Dates are the principal produce, and are sent down to the coast ports, where
they are purchased and packed by the exporters. To fix the value for
payment of customs duty all dates are auctioned on arrival at Mutra, and
certain taxes and fines due from the proprietors in the interior are levied
along with the duty. The ruling price in Muscat at the close of the
packing season this year (January 1904 ) was 820 mahmoodieh per “bar. ”
The “ Fard ” dates are mostly exported to America, where there is a
steady demand for this kind only.
Statistics show a steady increase in export of dates, hut the rainfall has
failed in Oman during the last five years, and the palms are said to have
suffered.
A few other fruits, particularly dried limes, are exported to India and
Persia.
Cotton, of good quality is said to have been formerly grown with success, but
is not now exported.
Eearls and Shells .— Bahrein is now the headquarters of the pearl fishing
industry in these regions, and little business in either pearls or shells is
done in Muscat. An oyster-bed is said to exist off the island of Masorah,
beyond Sur, from which fine pearls were formerly obtained.
Fish .—There is a regular trade to India in sun-dried and salted fish, but no
organised effort has been made to develop this industry, in which a good
trade might be done. The waters of Oman abound in excellent fish, and
i Muscat harbour swarms with sardines and a sort of whitebait (matoot).
J he goldfish, tunny, and ray are abundant. The fishermen use both line
and net, and wages are very low.
Coinage.
The Maria Theresa dollar is the usual medium of exchange in Oman.
Specie operations in this coin are worked through Bombay. The only coin
struck in the name of the Sultan is a copper pice (^anna), which has been
issued in excess, and circulates at a fluctuating value to the inconvenience
of the public, the present rate being 260 pice per ollar. The rupee is well
known in the coast ports, ani is current for many transactions in Muscat hut
does not penetrate far into the interior. The ratio of the rupee to the dollar
(about Rs. 220 per $100 before the Indian Mints were closed to free silver)
has been recently 130 to 140
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
per 100 dollars, in January 1904 Rs. 131
per $ 100.
Prices are often quoted in mahmoodieh, a money of account only; 20 gad
equal I mahmoodi, and 11J mahmoodieh equal one dollar.
Weights.
The Muscat man equals 237 tolah (2| tolahs=l oz. troy).
24 kias = 1 Muscat man.
3 Muscat mans= 1 Delhi man.
10 „ „ = 1 Frasla.
200 „ „ = 1 Bar.
The kias is said to equal 6 reals or dollars in weight. There is also a bazaar
man of 136 reals.
Freight.
Muscat is the only port of Oman at which steamers call. There is a
weekly passenger and cargo service both to and from Bombay via Karachi by
»
About this item
- Content
This part contains papers mostly relating to British interests in Persia [Iran] and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
It includes a copy of the Board of Trade Commercial Intelligence Committee ‘Report received from Mr. H. W. Maclean, the Special Commissioner appointed by the Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade, on the conditions and prospects of British trade in Persia.’
A handwritten note at the front of the file, on folio 5, states ‘Spare copy of notes & correspondence of the “Helmand Control” file (with maps)’. Folio 110 consists of handwritten notes, including one dated 27 April 1904, which states ‘The secret Helmand papers have been printed up, and a set, with necessary maps, is submitted for H.E. the Viceroy to take to England.’ Much of the file concerns the question of controlling the water of the Helmand river and irrigating its whole delta, and the work of the Seistan Arbitration Commission to arbitrate between Persia and Afghanistan on the question of rights to the water of the Helmand in Seistan.
The file also includes reports by W A Johns on reconnaissances of potential railway routes made while he was attached to the Seistan Arbitration Commission, and other papers relating to railways and roads in Persia.
In addition, the file includes copies of the following Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, which reproduce received Foreign Department correspondence on the following subjects: ‘Selection of a British naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .’, November 1901, Nos. 74-83; ‘Visit of His Excellency the Viceroy to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. during November-December 1903.’, February 1904, Nos. 33-127; ‘Establishment of telegraphic communication with Henjam. Question of the selection of a naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Aggressive action of the Persians at Tamb and Abu Musa; their claim to the Islands.’, June 1904, Nos. 300-388; ‘Reports of the Commercial Mission to Persia.’, June 1905, Nos. 45-111; ‘Question of retaining flagstaffs erected in the neighbourhood of the Musandim Promontory’, August 1905, Nos. 288-307.’
The file also includes: brief handwritten notes written by Curzon on headed paper belonging to the Viceregal Lodge, Simla, relating to Seistan and to Lord Kitchener’s planned reforms for the reorganisation and redistribution of the Indian Army; and a printed copy of the report ‘A Note by Major H.L. [Herbert Lionel] Showers, C.I.E., on the present state of affairs in Kelat and a review of the system of Administration now being pursued.’
The file includes four maps: ‘Map of the Tail waters of Helmand River’ (13 July 1903), f 122; ‘Plan Shewing Proposed Routes for a Railway from Nushki to Afghan Frontier near Robat’ (10 April 1903), f 139; ‘Extract from Admiralty Chart No. 753. (Entrance to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ).’ (October 1901), f 219; and ‘Sketch of route Ram Hormuz to Fellahieh.’ (April 1904), f 230.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (475 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in no apparent order, apart from the Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, folios 231 to 474, which are arranged in chronological order.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [11r] (20/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000015> [accessed 27 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/359/1
- Title
- ‘Persia – especially Seistan’
- Pages
- front, 2r:194v, 195v:196r, 197v:199v, 200v, 201v, 203r:272r, 273v:275v, 277r:405v, 408r:408v, 409v, 411r:413v, 414v:419v, 420v:424v, 425v:432v, 433v:435v, 436v, 437v:443v, 444v:471v, 473r:475v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence