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Persian Gulf Administration Reports 1883/84 - 1904/05 [‎240r] (484/602)

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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. .

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EESIDENCY AND MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOR THE YEAE 1900-1901. 17
in fact givo them control over the roads leading to that place and constitute
a permanent menace to the members of the Yemen also residing there. Any
alteration of the status quo was equally injurious to the interests of the Sultan
also and he accordingly addressed the Beni Buwaheh and enjoined them to
take the advice of the Wali and revert to the old order of things. A few days
later he was gratified to receive from his Wali a letter reporting that he had
succeeded in establishing peace between the parties, and that the newly-built
fortifications had been demolished. Before this satisfactory settlement had.
been arrived at, some slight casualties had occurred. Prom January to the end
of the official year, with the exception of one or two isolated cases of murder on
sudden provocation or in payment of old scores, but which have had not tribal
significance, complete tranquility has prevailed in Maskat and Oman.
8. In the distant province of Dhofar no events of any importance have been Dhofar and
reported. Walj Sulaiman-bin-Suweilim still continues in nominal charge of the Sohar -
district, but administers it through his Negro Deputy while he himself continues
to rule the Sohar district, which also experienced a year of undisturbed quiet.
9. This port of Oman was in evidence a good deal at the beginning of the Sur.
year owin^ to the Sultan's visit there and to incidents connected with the use of
thePrench flag by some of the Jenebeh and Beni Abu Ali, dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. -owners of that
port. Though Sur is but 80 odd miles from Maskat and one of the largest
outlying ports in his territory, strange to say the Sultan had never previously
set foot in the place since he succeeded his father Saiyid Turki twelve years
ago, and his relations with his Suri subjects had always been of a strained and
unsatisfactory nature. On the occasion of his recent visit, however, which took
place opportunely at the season (June) when all the dhows are back from
their peregrinations in the Indian Ocean and lie beached upon the banks of
the Sur Creek for their annual overhauling. His Highness was extremely well
received by the community, and on the news of his arrival reaching the near
interior, the Chief of the Beni Abu Ali, Abdulla-bin-Salim, hurried in from
Jaalan with a force of 1,200 armed men to do him honour.
During the few days of the Sultan's sojourn all the holders of French
flags and articles, some 45 in number, put in his hands a written expression
of their intention to cease from sailing under the French flag from that date;
and they undertook to make rendition of their flags and papers during the next
season's voyage of their craft to their respective ports of registry. This period
will be coming to an end in a few weeks, and it remains to be seen how far
they will adhere to their intention. Be that as it may, His Highness seems
now to realise that the indulgence with which he has treated this community
in the past has had effects altogether prejudicial to his interests, and to be
determined to assert his authority over them more effectively in the future.
10. During the year under report His Highness the Sultan moved about in his Sultan 's Tours
territory, whether on long or short excursions, more frequently and to a greater
extent than he has ever done in the past, and I am assured by natives with
knowledge of what is passing in the interior that his increased energy in this
regard has resulted in some enhancement of the practical respect with which
he is held in the interior. I am also of opinion that the restoration to the
Vazirship of his old family .retainer Saiyid Saeed-bin-Mahomed and the
consequent benefit of the latter's experienced counsels have also tended not
a little to improve His Highness's position and relations with his subjects of the
hinterland. In any case it is certain that he shows more inclination to leave
his capital from time to time and move about among his subjects in the inte
rior than has hitherto been his habit, and this can hardly fail to extend and
strengthen his influence among them.
11. 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. during the year visited the ports of the Batineh ^° 1 *^ 1 tourg
Coast, viz.) Seeb, Burka, Suweik, Kkaboora, Sohar and Shenas, and to the south of
Maskat, Kurryat and Sur. The communities of British Indian traders at those
places seemed to be prospering and contented. There were indeed a few com
plaints of the Sultan's Walis being unable or disinclined to enforce for them the
payment of acknowledged debts by their Arab customers, to which the Sultan s
attention was drawn, and there was the general complaint that Customs duty
was levied in full from them while Arabs from the interior paid or not as they
chose. The Sultan is endeavouring to better the state of things in this respect,
at all events at the larger ports, but the difficulty is one which has always

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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 :

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
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Persian Gulf Administration Reports 1883/84 - 1904/05 [‎240r] (484/602), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/709, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023373227.0x000055> [accessed 5 April 2025]

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