Persian Gulf Administration Reports 1883/84 - 1904/05 [‎31r] (66/602)

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Persian Gulf Administration Reports 1883/84 - 1904/05

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Ref: IOR/R/15/1/709

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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EESIDENCT AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOE 1884-85.
21
of cattle and camels, and flocks of sheep and goats. But the western portion of the range
behind Dhofar is neither so high nor so well clothed with vegetation, the upper part being
almost bare of trees. The soil of the plain is light and rich, and excellent water is found every
where at a few feet from the surface. Cotton, jowari, bajri, pulse, lucerne, and cocoanuts are
grown, but to a limited extent only. The trade of Dhofar is chiefly in the hands of Khoja
merchants, who are agents for houses in Bombay and Moculla. The imports are rice, grain,
dates, sugar, cotton cloth, and oil, the cloth being mostly indigo-dyed stuffs from Bombay, and
may amount to $50,000 annually. The exports are frankincense, ghee, hides and skins, wax,
&c., brought down from the hills by the Gara Bedouins, besides cotton, sardine oil, and shark-
fins, &c. The Samhan hills are known to be rich in balsamic, rubber-producing, and other
useful trees, but they have never been properly explored. The rubber tree grows to the height
of 15 or 20 feet; it is called Isbak by the Arabs and Tishkot by the Garas. Specimens of the
product have been sent to Muscat, but it has not yet become an article of trade.
The inhabitants of the plains of Dhofar are mostly Katherees. This Hadhramant
tribe, under Sultan Bedr Ba Towarek, invaded and overran Dhofar about 300 years ago and
made El Dahareez their capital. They were in turn dispossessed by others, but subsequently
regained supremacy j they still form the bulk of the inhabitants and number altogether about
1,500. The total population of the plain may be 2,000. The headmen of the towns and the
Kazis all came to Sallala to visit 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. ; they are on good terms with the
Governor, and expressed themselves as being well satisfied with the rule of His Highness
Seyyid Toorkee.
The Garas are an extremely interesting and peculiar race, and are but little known.
They are allied to the great Mahra tribe of whose language they speak a dialect. They are
taller than, and of a different physique and physiognomy from, all the Arab-speaking tribes
of Yemen and Oman, and, though they claim to be Hymyarites, have probably a separate
origin. The area occupied by the Garas is a very circumscribed one, extending only from
Rakeyoot, a village 12 miles west of Has Sajar to Hasek, and not reaching inland more than
40 miles from the sea. In habits they are pure Bedouins, but are not nomadic; they may
rather be styled Troglodytes, and their cave-haunting propensity is one of their chief singu
larities. The hills appear to be honeycombed with these caves, some of which are of prodi
gious dimensions, and afford space and accommodation for a whole family with its possessions
in cattle and goats. A cave near the sea explored in the preceding year was 100 feet broad,
60 feet deep, and 8 feet high, and was double-storeyed, a second smaller chamber existing over
the roof of the larger. This cave was entirely natural, and was a comparatively small one.
The sub-tribes of the Gara are 10 in number and are thus distributed: At Rakyoofc Beyt
Shemasa and Beyt Elsa; at Dhofar—Beyt Saeed, Beni Kattan, Beyt Jesjyon, Beyt Tebbook
Beyt Keshoop, Beyt Jahbool, and Beyt Maashinee; at Merbat—Beyt Makheir. The streno-th
of the whole Gara tribe does not probably exceed 3,000 souls.
Among the ruins with which the plain is interspersed the most extensive and interesting
are those on the shore between El Hafah and El Dahareez, covering a space 2 miles in
length. These ruins, now known as El Baleyd, are believed by Sprenger to be the remains of the
ancient Mansoora, but this name is unmentioned now in local tradition. The citadel, towers
and mosques are still standing in part, and the town wall and ditch can be distinctly traced!
They have been measured and fully described by Carter. According to local tradition this
city was founded by the Mainjooi or Nejui dynasty, which rose to the height of its power
in the fifth century of the Hijra. The existence of this dynasty has been discredited by
European orientalists, but without reason. The tombs of the Sultans near El Robat, a few of
them exquisitely worked and inscribed by Persian or Sanaa artists, have been examined and
copied. The prosperity of Mansoora was doubtless owing in great measure to the existence of
a copious stream of perfectly sweet water which encircled the town on three sides. This stream,
which is 4 or 5 fathoms deep, formerly communicated with the sea and formed a most excellent
creek or harbour for dows and boats. It is now closed by a sand-bar, but this only requires to
be removed to render the port again available for native vessels.
About half a mile from the ruins of El Baleyd lies the principal Moslem shrine at
Dhofar, the tomb of the Zamorin, known as Abdulla-el-Samiry. He was the Raja King of Cranga-
nore in Malabar and was converted to Islam in the beginning of the third century of the Hijra,
circa 210. Being compelled to leave his kingdom, he embarked in an Arab dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. and came to
Dhofar, where he died four or five years afterwards in the odour of sanctity. He is reputed to
have first brought rain to Dhofar by his prayers, and his tomb is still visited by numbers to
beseech his intercession in time of drought. The tomb is enclosed by an unroofed wall of mud
3

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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 :

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

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Persian Gulf Administration Reports 1883/84 - 1904/05 [‎31r] (66/602), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/709, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023373225.0x000043> [accessed 28 November 2024]

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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

Persian Gulf Administration Reports 1883/84 - 1904/05 [‎31r] (66/602)

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