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Persian Gulf Administration Reports 1883/84 - 1904/05 [51r] (106/602)
The record is made up of 1 volume (299 folios). It was created in 1884-1906. 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.
RESIDENCY
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
AND MUSCAT POLITICAL
AGENCY
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
FOR 1885-86.
25
houses and seem well off and contented; they were still lamenting, however, the damage done
in the great storm of March 1885, when the river rose many feet and carried off many houses
and date trees. I was much pleased with the general reception I met with here and was glad
to have seen so interesting a place. The elevation of Bahilah is 1 ,550 feet.
In the afternoon, accompanied by Shaik Nasir-bin-Hamid, who insisted upon showing me
every attention in his power, I started for Yabrin, which is four miles distant, and which was
reached before sunset. The Shaikh and his followers amused themselves by galloping about
and running races with each other all the way. Yabrin is merely a small fort, garrisoned by
six Arabs, without any dependent township, and there is no settled population here. Formerly
it was of more importance, and in the days of the Imam Belarab bin Sultan El Yaareby, who
built the fort about the year 1690 A. D., it was the capital of Oman. As the sun set here it
revealed in all its glory and distinctness of outline the huge mountain called Jebel-el-Kor?
which lies to the westward of Bahilah and forms the geographical boundary between the Pro
vinces of Oman and Dhahireh. It is quite detached from the Jebel Akhdar range, and appears
to have a height of 6,000 or 7,000 feet. The chief road from Bahilah to Dhahireh runs to the
south of this mountain and is called by some the ee Nejd-el- Makliarim/"' by others the " Nejd-el-
Dhahireh." The northern road is steeper and more difficult, and is known as the "Nejd-el-
Barak. J After consulting with the Arabs I resolved after leaving Nezwa to cross over to
Dhahireh by the northern pass, and as it turned out it was fortunate I did so.
SOU. We despatched a Kossid early to give notice to Shaikh Hilal at Nezwa of our ap
proach, and started about 8 a.m. ; we passed a hamlet in the
Wadi
A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Masalla, reached Tanoof
at £, and at 3-30 came to the outskirts of Nezwa. As we passed the outlying watch towers
commanding the various approaches, the men therein fired their matchlocks, and as we came
nearer, the fort took up the firing with its big guns. Descending into the bed of the
Wadi
A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Kalbuh, we rode through a dense crowd of people until we met Shaikh Hilal-bin-Zahir, who re,
ceived us very civilly and conducted us to a subla near the gate. I was then taken to the resi
dence allotted to me, and an hour later was visited by Shaikh Hilal^ who informed me that the
house 1 was in belonged to a brother of Sayid Nasir-bin-Ali, who was the Governor of Muscat,
and was murdered in his house there during the time of Sir B. Frere's visit in 1873. Shaikh
Hilal is a dignified and powerfully built man for an Arab, with a broad, expressive countenance,
showing much firmness and intelligence. He is now one of the most prominent men in Oman;
his artful diplomacy in turning every move in the intrigue against the late Wali a few years ago
to-his own advantage and in gaining possession of, first, the fort, and then the government, of
Nezwa, drew general attention to him, and he is now looked on as second only to Saleh-bin-Ali
himself as a leader. He gave me the idea of being the same sort of man that the Imam
Ahmed bin Said was—able, resolute, and capable of any villainy to compass the end he had in
view.
21 sf. Shaikh Hilal paid me an early visit; and we had a long geographical talk, during
which he gave me an account of the watersheds of the country. He said very little cotton was
grown at Nezwa and no cloth made whatever, but that indigo was largely cultivated and used
to dye American cloth brought from Muscat. Nezwa was famous for its copper and brass
work. After breakfast I took a walk through the town and environs, and was surprised at the
prosperity and populousness of the place. Nearly all the tribes of the country seem to be
represented here, the predominating ones being the Beni Riyam, who occupy Alaya*
and the Beni Hinah, who have been introduced extensively by Shaikh Hilal since he
assumed power here. Sifala has six haras, viz.,— <e Akr," in which stands the fort and
which has a fine gate to its enclosure; " Saal," unwalled; " Khorasin/^ walled and
contiguous to " Akr/^ " Khorasitin," " Haret-el-wady/"' and another. The two Wadies
" Kalbuh ^ and "Abyad" divide the town and join near the fort by the market. Abyad
has a more abundant supply of water than Kalbuh, and consequently supplies more felejes.
The fort consists of two parts, the " Kila " and the Hisn.^ The latter is a quadrangular
enclosure, at one corner of which stands the Kila, a huge circular tower 80 feet high, and
considered by the Arabs to be by far the strongest fort in Oman. I did not enter it, but
Wellsted says that three-fourths of the height, which he gives at 150 feet, are filled up solid
with earth and stones, and that the narrow passage inside, leading up from the doorway and
forming the only entrance, has seven iron doors to it. Leaving Nezwa at 4-30 I marched
to Tanuf, a distance of 8 miles, the same evening, having promised Shaikh Suliman bin Saif
bin Suliman-el-Riyami, who had intercepted me on the road the day before, to spend a night
in his town. It is a compact and substantial-looking place, fortified with a wall, on which
are mounted two guns, and there is a large date grove in the ravine at the back. This ravine
is the Wady Hyin, and up it lies the road from Nezwa to Rostak known as the "Tareek-el-
Shas."
*
About this item
- Content
The volume contains printed copies of Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Administration Reports. The Reports are incomplete (according to the introductory letters and lists of contents). Some of the Reports bear manuscript corrections. The following Reports are represented :
- Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for the Year 1883-84 (Calcutta: Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1884);
- Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1884-85 (Calcutta: Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1885);
- Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1885-86 (Calcutta: Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1886);
- Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1886-87 (Calcutta: Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1887);
- Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1887-88 (Calcutta: Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1888);
- Administration Report of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1888-89 (Calcutta: Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1889);
- Administration Report of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1889-90 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1890);
- Administration Report of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1890-91 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1891);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1891-92 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1892);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1892-93 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1893);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1893-94 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1894);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1894-95 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1895);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1895-96 (Simla: Government Central Printing Office, 1896);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1896-97 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1897);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1897-98 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1898);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1898-99 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1899);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1899-1900 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1900);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1900-1901 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1901);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1901-1902 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1902);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1902-1903 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1903);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1903-1904 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1904);
- Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1904-1905 (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1906).
The Reports include a general summary by 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. (covering the constituent agencies and consulates that made up the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , and topics such as the slave trade, piracy, the movements of Royal Navy ships, official appointments, and the weather); meteorological tables; separate reports on Muscat (also referred to as Maskat); reports on trade and commerce; and a number of appendices on special topics, such as supplementary notes on the care and culture of date trees and fruit (Report, 1883-84), historical sketch of the Portuguese in eastern Arabia (Report, 1884-85), notes on a tour through Oman and El-Dhahireh [Al Dhahirah] by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Barrett Miles (Report, 1885-86), notes on cholera in Persia (Report, 1889-90), report on the cholera epidemic in Maskat, Matrah, and Oman (Report, 1899-1900), and information on individuals and tribes.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (299 folios)
- Arrangement
The Reports are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume. There is an introductory letter/table of contents at the front of each Report, but these show that the Reports are not complete.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation system in use commences at 3 on the second folio after the front cover, and continues through to 299 on the back cover. The sequence is written in pencil, enclosed in a circle, and appears in the top right hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. page of each folio.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/709
- Title
- Persian Gulf Administration Reports 1883/84 - 1904/05
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 3r:298v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence