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‘Report on the administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for 1884-85.’ [8r] (11/130)
The record is made up of 1 volume (63 folios). It was created in 1885. 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.
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.
9
53. The island of Kishm suffered from repeated shocks of earthquake, and it is reported
that considerable changes have occurred in the
soundings
Measurements of the depth of a body of water.
in the neighbourhoood of Kishm.
On 20th May a very severe shock of earthquake caused the partial destruction of upwards
of thirty villages and the death of 133 persons, mostly women and children. A large number
of the inhabitants left Kishm and much distress existed. On hearing of this His Majesty
the Shah granted a sum of 1,400
tomans
10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
towards the relief of destitute persons and repair of
mosques. The current year's revenues were also remitted, and the new Governor, Shaikh Ibra
him, prohibited from levying taxes. In order to make up for this the revenues of the salt mines
of Kishm were assigned to the Governor.
6.—PERSIAN ARABISTAN.
54 The Ihtisham-es-Sultanah was removed from the Government of Arabistan, and the
Muzaffir -ul -mulk, Governor of Burojird and Khoramabad, was appointed by H. R. H. Zil-es-
Sultan, Governor of Burojird, Khoramabad, Luristan, and Arabistan.
55. Shaikh Muhammad, brother of Shaikh Mizal, Governor of Mohammerah, who had
been detained at Ispahan, was released.
56. Shaikh Mizal entertains fears of being compelled, by large pecuniary demands, to
withdraw from Muhammarah.
57. The Muzaffir-ul-mulk recently advanced towards Mohammerah with two Persian
regiments, and many of the Arab Shaikhs were preparing to move into Turkish tenitoiy.
7:—PERSIAN BALUCHISTAN.
58. Sirteep Ibrahim Khan died early in the year, and it was reported that many Baluch
who emigrated from fear of his oppression were returning to their native land.
59. & The alleged murder of an Indian in Baho, referred to in paragraph 63 of last year's
report, was further pressed on the Persian Government by Her Majesty's Minister, and orders
were issued to the Governor of Kerman to use all endeavours to arrest the guilty peison and
have him sent to Kerman.
60. In September the Director,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Telegraphs, reported that a man employed as
a
khalasi
Used by the British officials to refer to a non-European labourer, especially one employed on a ship.
in an Indian vessel had been seized at Charbar and taken to Pareg. It appeared
that the
khalasi
Used by the British officials to refer to a non-European labourer, especially one employed on a ship.
had formerly been a slave and had several years ago escaped to Kurrachee,
and a Baluch, claiming to be his former owner, now reclaimed him. Meer Hotee, Chief of the
district, being appealed to, justified the act, on which H. M. Minister at Teheran was asked to
move the Persian Government in view to the release of the man. Ordors to the desired effect
have been issued by the Governor of Kerman, and it is hoped the matter will soon be satis
factorily settled.
61. Two Indian traders complained in autumn of having been plundered near Jalk, and
orders were issued by the Governor of Kerman for strict inquiiy.
62. Disturbances have occurred between Rinds and people of the Baho district with loss of
a few lives. The Rinds were primarily in fault. The Wali of Gwadur was asked to mediate,
but the result is not yet known.
63 The Prince Nasir -ed-dowlah, Deputy Governor of Kerman, proceeded to Bampur and
was met by all chiefs of Persi-Baluch districts. Several of the latter are reported to have been
imprisoned and fined, but for what reasons is unknown.
64. An inquiry held by Colonel Miles and Colonel Reynolds into the Rind-Gwadur
disputes terminated on 33rd March,
65. Mr. B. Ffinch, Director,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Telegraphs, was re-appointed to Political charge
of the Mekran Coast in August.
8.—BASSIDORE.
66 This station has continued in charge of a coal agent, and there is nothing of interest
to report regarding it. The earthquakes so severely felt in other parts of Kishm island did no
damage at Bassidore station.
9.—SLAVE TRADE.
67. In the year 1884 there was a marked increase of the slave traffic from Africa to Oman.
68. In May Colonel Miles reported that he had information that attempts would be made
to run many cargoes of slaves from the African Coast, and His Highness Seyyid Toorkee in June
About this item
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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 Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for the year 1884-85, published by Authority by the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta [Kolkata]. A copy of a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Charles Ross, 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 Henry Mortimer Durand, Secretary to the Government of India (Foreign Department), dated 18 May 1885, is included in the report (folio 5), the original of which submitted the report to Government, under the following headings:
Part 1 ( General Summary ), written by Ross, dated 30 April 1885 (folios 6-11), containing summaries of local political affairs, and incidents or events of particular note for: Oman and the Pirate Coast; Bahrain; Nejd, El-Hasa [Al-Hasa] and El-Katr [Qatar]; Fars; Persian Arabistan; Persian Baluchistan; and Bassidore. The report also records a marked increase in the slave trade to the Gulf from Africa; summaries of changes in official personnel; British naval movements in the Gulf; and a summary of meteorological events observed at the Bushire observatory. Appendix A contains tabulated and graphical meteorological data for the year, supplied by the Bushire observatory.
Part 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. for the year 1884-85 ), submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Barrett Miles, Her Britannic Majesty’s 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. and Consul at Muscat (folios 12-23), containing a summary of affairs at Muscat, and an additional short report on the revival of the slave trade between Muscat and Zanzibar, a likely result, suggests Miles, of the departure of HMS London from Zanzibar. Appendix A is a report of Miles’s visit to Ras Fartak. Appendix B is an historical sketch, also written by Miles, on the Portuguese in Eastern Arabia.
Part 3 ( Report on Trade for the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for 1884 ), written by Ross and dated April 1885 (folios 24-59), comprising a short summary of the year’s trade, with notes on: grain; opium; cotton; tobacco; imported goods; the increase in piece goods; sugar; the activities of European firms in the Gulf; steamers; the Dutch Commercial Treaty; trade routes; naphtha springs; and pearl fishing. Appendix A comprises tabulated data on import, exports and revenue, in the Gulf ports of Bushire, Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh], Bunder Abbass [Bandar-e ʻAbbās], Bahrain and the Arab (Oman) coast. An index to the trade tables can be found at folios 25-26.
Part 4 (Trade [at Muscat]), submitted by Miles (folios 59-66), comprising a short summary of the year’s trade at Muscat, and an appendix containing tabulated data on imports and exports at Muscat (listed by commodity), and the nationality and average tonnage of vessels visiting Muscat.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (63 folios)
- Arrangement
The report is arranged into four numbered parts, with lettered appendices containing further reports and statistical data after each part.
- Physical characteristics
Condition: Some tears and holes in the paper, but not sufficient to impair legibility. Fold-out at f 10.
Foliation: There is a foliation sequence, which is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. It begins on the first folio, on number 4, and ends on the last folio, on number 66.
Pagination: The volume contains an original typed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/V/23/47, No 207
- Title
- ‘Report on the administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for 1884-85.’
- Pages
- front, 3v:67r, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence