Persian Gulf Administration Reports 1883/84 - 1904/05 [40r] (84/602)
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
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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.
39
The siege was prosecuted vigorously by him, and Hormuz would no doubt soon have fallen
again into the hands of the Portuguese had not a fleet of ten English and Dutch ships arrived to
relieve it. This changed the aspect of affairs, and Ruy Frere was a second time compelled to
withdraw his hand when the fruit was almost within his grasp. He retired first to Larek,
and from thence to Khor El-Shem, intending to wait for the expected main body of the flee
from Goa.. He was doomed to disappointment. The European enemies of the Portuguese were
now too powerful in the Gulf to permit them to regain their old supremacy, and all hopes of
the re-conquest of Hormuz had to be abandoned.
But although Hormuz was lost, Muscat still remained, and no efforts were spared by the
Portuguese to force the trade of the Gulf to this place and to raise it to the same commercial
grandeur as Hormuz. It was all in vain; for their reputation was against them, and while
the native merchants feared, to trust them, the English, who were rapidly gaining the ascend
ancy in the Gulf, did their best to concentrate the trade at Basra and Gombroon. The popu
lation of the town, however^ became at once largely augmented, and the Arab tribes in the
vicinity, who had always been kept on good terms by the payment of subsidies, were further
propitiated. By the fall of Hormuz the connection existing between that island and the
Oman coast which had existed for three and a half centuries came to an end, though it is related
that Muhammad Shah, the nephew of the old King of Hormuz, was brought to Muscat by the
Portuguese, who endeavoured to compel the coast Arabs to recognise him as their king.
Among the improvements undertaken at this time in Muscat were the rebuilding of the town
wall extending from Booma Salih to Bab Methaib, and the excavation of the fosse beyond; a
new customs house and a landing-place and dock at the creek. Further protection also was
afforded to the town by the erection of the towers at the passes of Kalboos, Riam, and Sedab,
In 16^3, the Governor of Muscat was Martino Alfonso deMello; this ofiicer resided for the
most part of the year in the
factory
An East India Company trading post.
or " Gareyza," but during the hot weather he occupied
Fort Capitan, which was at this time deemed of more importance than Fort Sam Joao (Jelali),
the former citadel. There were two churches, one of which was the see of the Vicar,
generally an Augustinian friar and dedicated to the Virgem del Rozario; and the other, called
Delia Gratia, was the property of the Augustinians, four of whom resided in it.
As Hormuz had been lost to Portugal during the vigorous reign of a great king. Shah
Abbass, so Muscat and the Oman coast were wrested from her grasp by the force of a national
impulse, engendered by the rise of a new dynasty.
After ten years of anarchy, Nasir-bin-Murshid-el-Yaareby, one of the strongest rulers
Oman ever had, was elected Imam in 1624. He soon made himself master of, and tranquillised,
the interior, and then set to work to expel the Christians. He first sent his troops against
Muscat, but was defeated and obliged to retire. Shortly after, the Portuguese assisted the
Chief of Lawa, Saif-bin-Muhammad, with troops and stores against the Imam's forces. In
this affair the allies of the Portuguese were worsted and the Imam captured the fort. The
Imam then collected another army, in command of which he placed Mesood-bin-Ramzan,
whom he ordered to march against Muscat. The author of the annals of Oman states that
the Arabs captured and demolished the high towers of Muscat, and that the Portuguese sued
for peace and agreed to the conditions imposed on them. But it is clear that the Arabs were
in'fact repulsed.
After driving the Persians and the Portuguese from Ras-el-Khyma, the Imam ordered
Hafiz-bin-Saif to erect a fort at Sohar against that held by the Portuguese, which he vigor
ously besieged for some time with a force composed of the Beni Khalid, Beni Lam, and El
Amoor tribes, but apparently without success, for the Kazi, Khamis-bin-Saeed, soon after pro
ceeded to Muttrah to treat for peace with the Portuguese Governor, and agreed to abandon the
siege of Sohar. This was in July 1633.
In the same or following year the Imam attacked Soor and Kooriyat, and recovered both
those places, by which he made himself master of the whole of Oman, except Muscat and
Sohar. Even the latter town, however, fell ultimately to the arms of this energetic prince, and
at his death, in April 1649, Muscat alone remained in the hands of the Portuguese.
The Imam Nasir was succeeded by the Imam Sultan-bin-Saif, who is said to have waged
war on the Christians in Muscat, and to have personally conducted the operations against them
until God gave him the victory. It seems, indeed, that he undertook the campaign immediately
on his accession, and that he was engaged in it for about two years. The circumstances and
date of the struggle, however, do not appear to have been recorded by the Arab chronicler;
and as the Portuguese historians are also silent on the subject, they remain matters of
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