‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1902-03’ [185v] (18/72)
The record is made up of 1 volume (34 folios). It was created in 1903. 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.
ADMIN ISTKAT ION REPORT ON THE
PERSIAN GULF
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
POLITICAL
XII.-Navy.
XIII.- Official
Changes.
XIV.-Foreign
Representa
tives.
carried off. Representations made to the Persian and^ Turkish authorities
produced no result, but Sheikh Mubarek visited the Chief of Mohammerah
in connection with these piracies, and it is not known what arrangement was
come to between the two Chiefs.
Early in September an expedition was organized at Dora by Yusuf bin
Ibrahim, with the object of either attacking Koweit and getting rid of Sheikh
Mubarek or else of committing piracies on Koweit boats. The Commander of
H.M.S. Lapwing having received news of the expedition made a search for the
dhows. On 5th September two dhows containing some 150 armed men were
discovered in the Khor Abdulla and were ascertained to be the suspected dhows.
Lieutenant and Commander Armstrong gave chase in four of the ships' boats.
The Arabs finding that they could not escape, ran their dhows ashore on the
Persian side of the entrance to the Shatt-el-Arab. The Lapwing s boats which
were in hot pursuit came up and a fight ensued between the boats and the Arabs
who had got ashore. After a sharp fight, in which one blue jacket was killed
and two wounded, the Arabs fied, losing, it is believed, some six men killed ana
several wounded.
The dhows were captured and later on destroyed. The gallant action of
Commander Armstrong and his men in pursuing and capturing these dhows, is
deserving of the highest praise. Several of the men belonging to the dhows
were subsequently arrested while trying to cross the river to the Turkish side
and were detained in custody by the Chief of Mohammerah.
In consequence of the representations made to the Turkish authorities,
Yusuf bin Ibrahim has been ordered to leave Dora and it is understood that he
has left the place.
On the night of the 26th November a Maskat
buggalow
Large trading vessel.
owned by two
British Indian subjects was pirated in the river while she was lying off Maamer
on the Turkish side. One of the crew was killed and the Nakhoda wounded,
400 dollars in cash and other property being carried off.
In Pebruary another Koweit boat was attacked in the Khor Musa.
A passenger and the Nakhoda and four of the crew were killed and a large
amount of cash and property was carried off. The Turkish and Persian
authorities are being pressed to take action against the pirates who have of
recent years done so much mischief in the neighbourhood of the Shatt-el-Arab.
Sheikh Mubarek invariably charges Yusuf bin Ibrahim with responsibility for
the piracies, but with the exception of the Lapwing incident no definite proof
against the man has been adduced.
The following ships of His Majesty's Navy visited the Gulf during the
year:—
Fomone, Sphinx, Redbreast, Lapwing, Amphitrite, Cossack, Assaye, Fox
and Renown.
The Russian cruisers Ashold and Boyarin, and the Prench cruiser Infernet
also visited the Gulf.
In January an addition was made to the Persian navy by the purchase of
the Belgian yacht Selika, now named the Mozafferi. A Belgian Captain is in
charge and she has two European engineers. She is understood to have been
purchased for Customs work.
Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kemball, C.I.E., was Resident throughout the year.
Captain Vere de Vere Hunt, who succeeded Mr. Davis as Pirst Assistant,
arrived at Bushire on 23rd April.
Lieutenant C. L. Peart, 4th Sikhs, arrived from India on 1st July on a
year's deputation to Persia as Assistant to the Resident and proceeded to Shiraz
where he now is.
Major E. Wickham Hore, I. M.S., was transferred to Baghelkband and was
succeeded as Kesidency Surgeon by Captain de Vere Condon, I.M.S., who
arrived in Bushire on 25th November.
Dr. Reinhardt was Consul for Germany throughout the year. He visited
Shiraz during the summer and quitted Bushire for Europe on leave in the end
of March. He has been succeeded by Herr Von Mutius.
Monsieur Chaloin was Vice-Consul for Prance during the year. Towards
the end of March he took over the duties of Consul for the Netherlands from
Mr. Moesmann who resigned the appointment.
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Administration Report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. 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 [Muscat] Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for 1902-1903, published by the Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India (Calcutta), forming part of the Selections from the Records of the Government of India, Foreign Department, and based on reports sent to Government 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. and other Agents in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Folios 181 and 168 are copies of notes, dated 15 and 21 May 1903 respectively. Both notes were sent by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Arnold Kemball, Officiating 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , to Louis William Dane, Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department. The first note (no.82) enclosed 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 Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. reports. The second note (no.87) enclosed statistical tables of trade at Ahwaz and Shuster for 1902, drawn up by His Britannic Majesty’s Consul at Mohammerah [Khorramshahr] from returns supplied by Messrs Lynch and Brothers.
The Administration Report is organised as follows:
1. General Summary , submitted by Kemball (folios 183-87), including reports on: the year’s rainfall and harvest; the governorship of Bushire and Gulf ports; public health, with details of outbreaks of cholera and smallpox; customs administration in the Gulf; settlement of claims against the Persian Government; and the coronation of King Edward VII. The General Summary also includes summaries for towns and regions, chiefly comprising accounts of local politics: Oman and Muscat; Oman and the Pirate Coast, including an assessment of the pearling season; Bahrain, including news from El Katr [Qatar]; El Hassa [Al-Hasa] and El Katif [Al-Qaṭīf]; Koweit [Kuwait] and Nejd, with an update on the fighting taking place between Abdul Rahman bin Feysul el Saood [Ibn Sa‘ūd] and the Emir of Nejd, Ibn Rashīd; Persian Arabistan; Fars and the Persian Coast, with separate reports from Shiraz, Lār, Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh], and Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās]; Persian Baluchistan. Further reports are included on: the slave trade, including numbers of slaves manumitted by British officials in the region; incidents of piracy; naval movements, chiefly British but also Russian, French and Persian vessels; changes in British official personnel; and movements and changes in foreign representatives. An appendix to part 1 comprises statistical tables with meteorological data for the region.
2. Administration Report of the Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , 1902-03 , submitted by Major Percy Zachariah Cox, His Britannic Majesty’s Consul and 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. at Muscat (folios 187-92), including: an account of the tribal politics of Oman; reports from Seeb, Awabi, Nezwa [Nizwa], and Gwadur [Gwadar]; the Political Muscat Agent’s tour, including Fujeyrah [Fujairah], a Persian flag flying on Sirrī Island, and the journey from Abu Thabi [Abu Dhabi] to Muscat; a report of Cox’s attendance of the Delhi coronation durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). ; customs; the arms trade; public health; slave trade activity; telegraph rates; Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. buildings; naval movements at Muscat, chiefly British but also Russian, French and U.S. vessels; official changes and the Resident’s visit. A trade report for Muscat is appended to the administration report, summarising imports and exports, itself followed by an appendix of tabulated trade statistics.
3. Report on the Trade and Commerce of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for the Year 1902 , submitted by Kemball (folios 192-99), including: general remarks on trade; imports and exports; exchange; mule hire rates; freight and shipping rates. An appendix follows with trade data of the principal imports and exports, and number, tonnage and nationality of vessels.
4. Report on the Trade of the Bahrein Islands for the Year 1902 , submitted by John Calcott Gaskin, Assistant 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. (folios 200-02), with details of: coffee imports; pearling season; shell exports; exchange; port improvements. An appendix follows the report, containing tabular data on the principal imports and export at Bahrain.
5. Report on the Trade of Mohammerah [Khorramshahr] for the Year 1902 , submitted by William McDouall, His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul, Mohammerah (folios 203-08), with summaries on: exchange; shipping; river trade; caravan routes; and agriculture. An appendix follows the report, containing trade data in tabular format.
6. Trade Report of Bundar Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] for the Year 1902 , submitted by Captain William George Grey, His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul, Bandar-e ʻAbbās (folios 208-11), with summaries on: openings for British trade; mistakes made by British traders; the progress or decline of rival trade; obstacles to trade; communication between traders and the Consular Officer; legislative and tariff regulations; shipping. An appendix follows the report, containing trade data in tabular format.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (34 folios)
- Arrangement
The report is arranged into a number of parts and subsections, with statistic data in tabular format directly following written sections. There is a contents page at the front of the report (folio 180) which lists the report’s contents, and refers to the report’s own pagination sequence.
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- Reference
- IOR/V/23/81, No 404
- Title
- ‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1902-03’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 178r:211v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence