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Persian Gulf Administration Reports 1883/84 - 1904/05 [‎33v] (71/602)

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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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26
ADMINISTRATION EEPOET OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. POLITICAL
Passing Soor, which is described as a small fishing village, the fleet, sailing close and
followed by a large concourse of people along the shore, next arrived at the city of Kilhata
where Albuquerque ordered his ships to come to an anchor with as much noise and display as
could be made.
This was the first appearance of Europeans in ships in the Gulf of Oman since the days of
Alexander, eighteen centuries before. And from the ready submission of the people of Kilhat,
the appearance of the fleet seems to have been viewed with no little terror and dismay, the
Persians here having doubtless heard of the proceedings of the Portuguese on the Indian coast
and of their warlike character and superiority.
At the time of these events the Arab Prince in power in Oman was the Imam Muham-
mad-bin-Ismail-el-Ismaili, who was elected in A.H. 906 (A.D. 1500) and died in A.H. 942
(A.D, 1535). His capital was el Rostak, where he usually resided. He held sway, however,
only over the interior portion of the country, the coast line being still, as it had been since
A.D. 1270, subject to the Persian King of Hormuz, whose chief Governor was at Kilhat.
No communication was held the first day with the city, but on the following morning a
boat was sent on shore with two officers and an interpreter, who were civilly received, and were
informed that the town belonged to the kingdom of Hormuz, and that anything required for
the fleet would be willingly supplied.
On the next day, further communications took place between the Governor and Albuquerque,
to whom a present of fruit, &c., was sent on board by the former. The present, however, was
not accepted by Albuquerque, who required the unconditional submission of the town and the
transfer of allegiance to the King of Portugal.
The Governor being unprepared for resistance resolved to temporise, and humbly depre
cating the opening of hostilities and the destruction of the town, besought Albuquerque to pro
ceed to Hormuz and make terms with the King, promising that whether peace or war might
result there, Kilhat would nevertheless yield subjection to the King of Portugal. This evasive
reply was fully understood by Albuquerque; but as he was in urgent need of provisions he took
the advice of his officers and accepted the position until a more convenient opportunity. Before
leaving, Albuquerque gave a written guarantee of safety from attack by other Portuguese ships
in the name of the King Dom Manoel to the Governor, but he did not scruple to make prize
of an Aden dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. of 200 tons lying in the harbour which was held to ransom.
On Sunday, the 22Qd August, Albuquerque weighed from Kilhat and sailed for Teywee,
which he had supposed to be a large port, but finding it merely a watering place he passed on to
Kooriyah, where he anchored for the night. The next day no boat came off from the shore,
and it was seen that the inhabitants had prepared for resistance. Albuquerque accordingly
reconnoitred the place in his boat and arranged his plan of attack for the following morning.
It was ascertained that the Arabs had two batteries, on one of which they had mounted four
mortars, and the attack was consequently concentrated on these points. The struggle was long
and severe, but the natives were ultimately driven out of their defences and pursued half
a league by the Portuguese, who slaughtered indiscriminately all the men, women, and children
they could reach. Some prisoners taken in the town had their ears and noses lopped off to
signalise the victory, and Kooriyah was plundered and set on fir 3. Twenty-five firelocks,
besides spears, bows and arrows, &c., were captured, and 38 vessels, large and small, lying in
the port, were burnt.
Muscat, the next scene of destruction, was reached in four days after leaving Kooriyah,
and was found to be a very formidable and well-fortified place. It is also described as being
the principal port on that coast. The inhabitants had heard of the fate of Kooriyah, and were
disinclined to expose their city to a similar catastrophe; they therefore did not wait for a
summons to surrender, but immediately on the arrival of the fleet sent off two of their chief men
to Albuquerque, offering submission to the King of Portugal, and promising to agree to any
terms that might be demanded.
Albuquerque, finding they were unprovided with written power to treat from the Governor,
sent them on shore again, desiring them to return on board the following day. In the mean
time he sounded the harbour and reconnoitred the fortifications. It was found that the Arabs
had constructed a rampart of wood and earth from hill to hill above the beach in front of the
town and had mounted thereon a number of mortars. On the two Sheikhs visiting Albu
querque next day, they were informed that they were required to pay an annual tribute and
furnish his fleet with supplies and water during the operations against Hormuz. Compliance
with the requisition for provisions was made at once j but during the night the inhabitants were

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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 [‎33v] (71/602), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/709, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023373225.0x000048> [accessed 28 November 2024]

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