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‘Administration report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for 1891-92’ [157r] (19/55)
The record is made up of 1 volume (27 folios). It was created in 1892. 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.
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.
19
Part III.—REPORT ON THE TRADE OF SOUTHERN PERSIA AND
THE
PERSIAN GULF
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
FOR THE YEAR 1891.
During the past year trade did not diminish in volume, hut was not alto
gether satisfactory to those engaged in it. The tendency to import goods in
excess of the probable requirements of the country, to which attention was
drawn in recent reports, was more marked than ever. Increased competition,
pushed too far in the hope of driving rivals out of the field, resulted in re
peated accumulations that could not be rapidly worked off, and in no little loss.
More than one European firm suffered from failures amongst Persian mer
chants, but these, whether caused by imprudent speculation or arising under
more suspicious circumstances, were not extensive, and they have probably
served to teach British firms a not unueeded caution in fixing the limits of the
credit which they are prepared to allow to native dealers.
At the time of writing this the prospects of profitable trade are far from
bright. Owing to the recent decline in the value of silver, added to the glut
caused by previous over-importation, large stocks of piece-goods up-country are
unsaleable except at a heavy loss, nor does there seem to be any immediate
hope of an improvement in exchange. Several steamers that usually load for
the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
have been taken off the line for the time being. Export
business also appears likely to he much restricted for some time to come, as the
usual embargo on the export of grain is not likely to remain altogether a dead
letter this year, in which the crops in Southern Persia are very poor.
Imports.
Arms and Ammunition. — Strict orders prohibiting the importation of these
in any form were issued by the Persian Government, hut were not probably
enforced with much strictness, as no corresponding reduction was made in the
demand from the customs farmer.
Candles. —The business done in this article was normal, hut is said to be
hardly remunerative.
Cotton Goods. —Demand was brisk for the first quarter of the year, but
slackened as time went on ; and by the end of the summer, owing to over-im
portation and a rise in exchange, business had become unprofitable, continuing
so to the end in spite of a steadily falling home market. The smaller native
dealers had been a good deal crippled by the adverse exchange of the previous
year, and some failures occurred; bat, as stated above, none of great import
ance. European firms however would do well to consider the question of
credit to native traders who are not, apparently, very scrupulous in fulfilling
their engagements, and are with difficulty brought to account when they have
evaded them.
Glass and Glassicare. —The trade in these articles, the latter of which
mostly comes from Austria, steadily increased during the year.
Gold Lace and Thread.- —The demand fell off. This is said to be due to
the importation of inferior kinds from France, whereby superior qualities from
Germany are driven out of the market.
Metals. —The trade in copper was dull, and only such quantities as were
actually needed were bought. Iron, on the other hand, both rod and bar, was
largely imported from India as well as from Europe. Large stocks were still
c2
About this item
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Administration Report of 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 1891-92, published by the Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India (Calcutta), forming part of 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and 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. at Muscat.
The report is divided up into a number of sections and subsections, as follows:
Part 1 , is a General Summary (folios 150-153) written by Adelbert Cecil Talbot, 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and divided up as follows:
1. Oman-Muscat Coast, general summary of political, trade and military developments along the coast over the previous year.
2. Oman Pirate Coast, gives summary of relations between the various ruling families on the coast including political, trade and military matters.
3. Bahrain, summary of events in Bahrain during the previous year; records an influenza outbreak and an excellent date crop. Matters related to the pearl trade are also discussed briefly.
4. El Hasa, reports the arrival of the new Ottoman Mutasarif (Governor) Said Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and notes that diarrhoea and influenza were rife during the previous year, resulting in many deaths.
5. El Katif [Al Qatif], notes that piracy has been rife and a general feeling of insecurity has prevailed during the previous year. Also notes introduction of new land laws by Turkish [Ottoman] authorities and that small-pox was prevalent at El Katif.
6. Nejd, reports that the Al Saood [Al Saud] family appear to have finally lost control of the Nejd region to the Al Rashid dynasty of Jabal Shammar.
7. El Katr, reports that Jasim bin Thani continues to disobey the Turkish [Ottoman] authorities and gives an account of recent tribal fighting in the area.
8. Persian Arabistan, general summary of political, trade and military developments in the region over the previous year. Notes that Talbot visited Ahwaz accompanied by Captain Kemball in January.
9. Fars and Persian Coast, general summary of political, trade and military developments along the coast over the previous year. Mentions prevalence of influenza and small-pox on the island of Kishm and the appearance of large numbers of locusts in Kirman.
10. Persian Baluchistan, summary of political developments in the region. Also notes destructive presence of locusts around Charbar and Geah in July 1891.
11. Slave Trade, summary of the status of slave traffic in the region.
12. Royal Navy Vessels, records arrival and subsequent departure from the Gulf of H.M.S Redbreast and the replacement of Commander Hart-Dyke of the H.M.S Sphinx as Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. with Commander Streeton of the H.M.S Brisk .
13. Political Appointments, reports that there were no changes in 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. officials and that in September 1891, Surgeon-Major Ross was succeeded by Surgeon-Captain Duke as 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. Surgeon.
14. Observatory, points to Appendix A containing the results of daily weather observations in a tabular statement.
Part 1 also contains the following appendix (folios 154-155): Appendix A, Table showing Force and Prevailing Directions of Winds and recorded Rainfall at Bushire for the year 1891-92.
Part 2, is an Administration Report of the Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and Consulate for the year 1891-92 (folio 156) written by Atmarim Sadashiv Jayakar, In Charge Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Muscat. The report provides a summary of political and military developments in Muscat throughout the past year.
Part 3, is a Report on the Trade of Southern Persia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for the year 1891 (folios 157-158r) written by Adelbert Cecil Talbot, 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The report contains details regarding the types and quantities of imports and exports in the region. Appendix A to Part 3 (folios 158v-165) contains 25 tabular charts related to all aspects of trade in the region.
Part 4, is a Muscat Trade Report written by Atmarim Sadashiv Jayakar, In Charge Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Muscat (folios 166-171). The report contains a number of detailed tables related to trade to/from Muscat.
Part 5, is a Report on the Trade of Mohammerah for the Year 1891 (folios 172-174). The report contains a description of the state of trade in Mohammerah and several tabular charts regarding imports and exports to/from Mohammerah and the surrounding region.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (27 folios)
- Arrangement
The report is arranged into a number of sections and subsections, with statistic data in tabular format directly following written sections. There is a contents page at the front of the report (folio 149) which list the report's contents.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/V/23/61, No 293
- Title
- ‘Administration report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for 1891-92’
- Pages
- 148r:175r
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence