'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [99r] (208/474)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
4
//
■fco tot* found with tile Bani Citato and tooth, are poBaesaed toy
the Minasir.
In th« Hajar to the south the wild ass ie still
found. Shy and untaraeatols he regards the approach** of
jfi&i* wi oh Buspioion and no wonder^ fur in a lean year the
• v adu, or in tinse of war the tribesman, ia as likely aa not
to be stalking him for the pot. '^anther are said to
roam the No them iiajar and take off a yearly toil of
camels. Kor do they oonfine their attentions to the
young camel - the l;irge 8 t cow is ofi.en their victim.
heir method ie to climb the jungle tree and lay in wait
upon its branches. ’ he unsuspecting camel in the half
light of dawn comes in quest of food, hla long neck up-
-stretched for che youngest and most succulent leaf ^ M*-.
Thereupon the panther springs at the camel’s head, gets
him down and makes short work of him. There are few
if any ibex in the north, though the ohort-horned variety
is common in Bant Iter country, but descending to the plain,
V
gazelle are numerous. Of ohyx there are none so far
north as this. One of our escort, a smart rifle shot,
got a hare with a soft nosed bullet. Bum dums are pop-
-ular with the hunting element. The Hajar ie notorious
for its deadly mountain snakes, a few of which we killed
together with a scorpion or two.
Oman ~ arohacelogically speaking - xra is a
virgin field. The country pasted through from Bah&r
to Burj ash Bhukhairi there can be little doubt was the
ancient Maziui of the re-Islam days of ereian occupation.
if
Its capital JamsetJ^d has already been identified by
and
Mile* who after describing the ruined fortifications, its
circular towers and cisterns with detailed accuracy,
wrongly labels the hill where they are tojtoe found. He
uses for his purpose (pp. 540-41).two Arab place names
Jebel Gharabeh and Pelej al Sock as if they were synonymous*
In reality they are several miles apart and neither signi-
-fies
H
About this item
- 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 View the complete information for this record
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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.' [99r] (208/474), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/86, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066728594.0x000009> [accessed 30 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/6/86
- Title
- 'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.'
- Pages
- 72r:73v, 79r:130v, 135r:135v, 141r:143v, 163r:166v, 174r:174v, 178r:180v, 204r:206v
- Author
- Thomas, Bertram Sidney
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact [email protected] with any information you have regarding this item.
!['File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [‎99r] (208/474) 'File 2/10 1 II. AVIATION. ROYAL AIR FORCE. (1) Reconnaissance of Basrah, Aden, Muscat, Masirah, Murbat, Sauqrah Bay Etc. AIR ROUTE.' [‎99r] (208/474)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000831.0x0002de/IOR_R_15_6_86_0208.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg)