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'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [‎88r] (186/474)

The record is made up of 1 volume (233 folios). It was created in 23 Dec 1926-22 Dec 1931. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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I trf
our immediate return to Sahar. He gave uo to understand
that the Ka’im were on the war path and we must get out of
Najd at once. Gentries were posted by him on the hill
tops while the c?imels were hurriedly saddled up. To
avoid rx&mdtx retiring and to play for time it was aost
-desirable that the party should move north into Shaikh
Balim’o territory but he refused on the score that it would
conpromioe him still more. Although unfortunate for ue
his attitude in the present tribal ferment was reaoonable.
With information of all his Baduin neighbours ranged
solidly with Tbn Baud ( which later turned out to be erron-
-eous) he could not be expected to take a step which may
alienate his own followers too: the conspicuous absence
of HA 1 his brother, who wields an influence in the
tribe scarcely less considerable han his own, also repres
ented an unknown quantity. There was no course left
us but to side step south-east into Bhuwamis territory and
try and get into touch with bu Dhabi. But the Shuwaruis
Shaikh Hamdan was equally reluctant to have us and we were
obliged to camp in the open Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hare ad one night before he
agreed to our coming into his village at XX7MAR. Here
came news that Abu Sanaa had moved down in our rear with a
\
body of men to KAIL at the head of kadi Jizzi. he
situation was an unhappy one. Not only was all progress
barred but if we had to fall back only Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. AhlB (Saham or
Khabura) offered a way out. The continued absence of
lia’adhid and Shaikh Salim’s continuous refusal to have the
party set foot in his territory was susceptible of the inter*
-pretation that the Bani Ka’ab had a foot in each Camp.
X wireless telegraph message was sent to H.M.S. ’ALupin' 1
giving a resum^ of the situation at this stage.
Stage ii.
At Kitnah Thaikh Htoadan was despatched with your
letter to the Bhaikh of Abu lhabi.
Other messengers were
sent

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Content

The volume contains correspondence related to the Air Staff Intelligence, Air Headquarters, Baghdad’s request for information to be obtained from Muscat regarding the possible establishment of a subsidiary air route from Iraq to India via the Arabian side of the Gulf. The required information was concerning the straight line Mirfah-Biraimi-Khaburah. Arrangements were made for some Royal Air Force (RAF) representatives to visit the region accompanied by a doctor, and Bertram Sidney Thomas, Financial Advisor to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.

The correspondence contains information on the estimates of the cost of the journey including hire of camels; cost of feeding men and camels; presents to be given to the Shaikhs; wages and foodstuffs, coffee etc.

Letters were sent to various Shaikhs and Walis in Sohar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Baraimi [Buraimi] and other regions, asking them to assist the Royal Air Officers while conducting their work. The correspondence contains letters of certain Shaikhs such as Shaikh Salim bin Diyin [Dayyin] Al-Ka‘bi and Shaikh ‘Isa bin Salih Al-Ḥārithī [Al Harthi] negotiating the terms for them to accept the RAF work to take place. It also contains reports about the troubles made by some of the Bedouin tribes.

Bertram Sidney Thomas reported on his observation on the proposed seaplane flight along the south Arabian coast. He also sent a report (ff 82- 130) to the Sultan and 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. on the proceedings of the RAF Trans-Oman Expedition which he conducted from Sohar to Sharjah between 12 May and 3 June 1927. The report is in two parts covering the following: preliminary situation; itinerary of expedition; description of country passed through; tribal situation and Ibn Saud; personalities; tribal considerations and the air route.

The volume also includes correspondence with the Sultan of Socotra regarding the construction of landing ground in his territory near Qishn. It also includes correspondence about the Air Ministry’s interest in extending the reconnaissance to establish landing grounds along the southern coast of Arabia.

Among other correspondents in the volume are: 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. , Muscat; Muscat and Oman, Council of Ministers; and C Hilton Keith, Squadron Leader RAF, Sohar.

Extent and format
1 volume (233 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 229; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [‎88r] (186/474), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/86, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066728591.0x0000bb> [accessed 5 June 2026]

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