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‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1902-03’ [‎200r] (47/72)

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. .

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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 YEAR 1902-1903
P ART IV.— REPORT ON THE TRADE OE THE BAHREIN ISLANDS
EOR THE YEAR 1902.
The considerable decline in the figures for some of the principal articles of
trade may be explained by the insecurity of the caravan routes to A1 Hassa and
Nejd throughout the last quarter of 1901 and the following five months during
which period ail trade between Bahrein and those districts was stopped ' Cotton
piece -goods were seriously affected, and the local market was overstocked owinj*
to the merchants holding over a large number of bales which were imnortpd
the latter end of 1901 for the A1 Hassa trade. impoited at
The improvement in the condition of the islanders and the influx of Persian
settlers during the past two years are creating a demand for a better class of
prints, woollen cloths, cheap velvets and silks. Gold thread and lace of conti
nental manufacture of medium qualities are in demand.
The trade in coffee shows a decided increase notwithstanding the unfavour
able conditions prevailing in the A1 Hassa district during the past year. The
improvement is due to the cheap Brazilian coffee imported, which has brouo-ht
the article within the reach of the poorer classes. With the fall in price a
larger consumption on the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. may be anticipated,
and British firms are recommended to turn their attention to the possibilities of
the commodity.
The pearling operations were a success as far as the divers were concerned.
But the same cannot be said of the dealers who have suffered losses from 15 to
20 per cent, on their transactions. The quantity obtained was less than the
preceding season by about 8 per cent., and keen competition between the dealers
drove up prices 30 per cent. It is not expected, however, that the losses
experienced by the dealers will seriously affect the general trade for the current
year, owing to the fact that the high prices received by the divers for their
pearls have improved their spending powers.
The shell transactions show a large fall. This is due to a large quantity of
shells having been taken by sailing craft direct to Bushire, which offered better
facilities for shipment to Europe, and for want of transport about 600 tons
remained in stock at the close of the year.
The advantages of this trade, as well as of the general business to be done
in Bahrein, appears to be better appreciated by foreign trading houses than
British merchants. The Erench firm of M. M. Dumas and Guien of Marseilles
has recently opened a branch office. It is hoped that some energetic British
firm will realise the importance of this growing trade and will endeavour to
obtain a share in it before it is too late.
The stability of the Indian rupee is being appreciated by the Arabs, and the
circulation of the Maria Theresa dollar consequently is decreasing. Large
profits on the latter coin can no longer be made. The exchange in the two
coins closely followed the Bombay market prices plus freight and interest. At
the end of the year the dollar stood at Rs. 120 per 100.
Exchange transactions with Europe are arranged principally through
Bombay Banking houses and in some instances through Bushire, the^ rates are,
therefore, much higher than those obtaining at ports where Banks icxist.
The building of a stone pier is under consideration, and when it is completed,
the shipping will have little cause to complain about the arrangements for dis
charging their cargoes. To meet recurring expenditure^ required for the up
keep of the pier, fees will be charged on all exports and imports.
Steamers for Europe will generally be able to obtain shells when calling
here for cargo in the last quarter of the year, at rates 10 shillings in advance of
those offering at Bushire. Also at about the same season dates for the Red Sea
ports are obtainable. j, CAI jc ott gaskin,
Assistant Folitioal Agent.
Bahrein,
The Vth March 1903.

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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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English in Latin script
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‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1902-03’ [‎200r] (47/72), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/V/23/81, No 404, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023551198.0x000031> [accessed 18 October 2024]

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