!['Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency including that of the Muscat Political Agency, with Reports on Trade for 1873-74.' [‎8v] (16/92)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000812.0x00034c/IOR_V_10_680_0022.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency including that of the Muscat Political Agency, with Reports on Trade for 1873-74.' [‎8v] (16/92)")
'Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency including that of the Muscat Political Agency, with Reports on Trade for 1873-74.' [8v] (16/92)
The record is made up of 46 folios. It was created in 1874. 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.
14
REPOUT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
The system of Government is so well known now that it is needless to
explain these facts. Before confidence can be established effective reforms
must be introduced.
Meanwhile to enable the British merchant to contend successfully
against the existing difficulties he requires all the support that can or
will be extended to him.
With railway communication in the north of Persia and no corre
sponding move in the south it would appear probable the southern trade
would be in great part destroyed to the disadvantage of British and
Indian commerce.
It seems improbable railways could be constructed to connect the
shores of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
with Central Persia. The suggestion of estab
lishing a commercial route by the Karoon between Shuster and Ispahan
seems best calculated to meet the difficulty.
General requirements. —The immediate requirements in order to
encourage commerce seem to be—
(1.) The appointment invariably of able and honest Governors to
districts and avoidance of the present system of frequent changes.
(2.) Encouragement and protection of the agricultural classes.
(3.) Security of transit for merchandize. Probably were the pea
santry better protected or less oppressed the robber bands would disappear.
The peasantry are naturally strong, frugal, and industrious, and with
fertility of soil the conditions for protection are not wanting. Too fre
quently the agriculturalists have just to take their choice between being
robbed or robbing. For the heavy taxes they pay the Government gives
them nothing in return.
Special requirements. —There are many special wants which Bushire
merchants have long felt such as—
(1.) A more efficient Commercial Treaty.
(2.) Establishment of a British
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
at Yezd.
(3.) Introduction of a system of drawbacks on goods temporarily
imported and re-exported.
But these matters have been frequently discussed.
Customs and Revenues.
System of farming Customs, —At the sea-ports the customs are gene
rally farmed out to the highest bidder, who is not uncommonly the
Governor of the town.
The Minister of Commerce sometimes takes the lease of all the
Custom Houses of Persia, but letting to various persons.
The Bushire Customs were let to a person of Ispahan in 1873 for
32,000
Tomans
10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
or
Rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
1,28,000.
The Governor collects the land revenue, paying a fixed sum, to the
Central Government.
About this item
- Content
Report on the Administration of the Bushire 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. including that of the Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , with Reports on Trade for 1873-74 , printed at the Foreign Department Press, Calcutta, 1874.
The report is split into two sections and further into subsections. The first section relates to 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. at Bushire, the second to the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Muscat.
The first section on Bushire consists of three sub-sections:
- An administration report 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Charles Ross, that gives an update on political and administrative matters for various places and sheikhdoms in the region, as well as notes on weather, medical matters, and the slave trade (folios 2-6);
- A trade report, also written by Ross, that includes notes on the various ports, the main commodities, transport, and customs (folios 6-9);
- Twenty-four tables of trade statistics (A-X) (folios 9-38).
The second section on Muscat consists of two sub-sections:
- An administration report written by the 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. , Major Samuel Barrett Miles, which gives a political and administrative update on the country, including notes on slave traffic and trade (folios 38-40);
- Six tables of trade statistics (A-F) (folios 41-46).
- Extent and format
- 46 folios
- Arrangement
The report is arranged in two sections: the first relating to the Bushire 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. , the second the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Muscat.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency including that of the Muscat Political Agency, with Reports on Trade for 1873-74.' [8v] (16/92), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/V/10/680, ff 1-46, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023882947.0x000017> [accessed 11 March 2025]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023882947.0x000017
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023882947.0x000017">'Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency including that of the Muscat Political Agency, with Reports on Trade for 1873-74.' [‎8v] (16/92)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023882947.0x000017"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000812.0x00034c/IOR_V_10_680_0022.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000812.0x00034c/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/V/10/680, ff 1-46
- Title
- 'Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency including that of the Muscat Political Agency, with Reports on Trade for 1873-74.'
- Pages
- 1r:46v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence