'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎32r] (68/386)

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an address presented by merchants residing under British protection at Maskat;
from the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. he proceeded to the Sultan’s palace to return the Sultan s
visit. In the evening a dinner party and reception took place on hoard the
« Hardinge ” and the town and forts were illuminated. On the next day a
brilliant Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). was held on board the “ Argonaut ”, at which an address was
read on behalf of the Sultan and Lord Curzon replied in a speech dealing with
the relations of Britain and Oman. After the Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). llis Highness the Sultan
was invested by the Viceroy with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Indmn
Empire and a private interview followed. Sir A. Hardinge, the British
Minister at Tehran, was present at the Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , having arrived at Maskat on the
previous day in H.M.S. “ Sphinx ” ; H M S. “ Lapwing ” and the R.I.M.S.
“ Lawrence ” were also present in the harbour, and the assemblage of ships was
thus by far the most imposing which had ever flown the flag of a single power
in the waters of Oman.
The next day, the 20th of November, was devoted by the Viceroy to
a minute examination, in company with the Naval Commander-in-Chief, of
the important inlets of the Musandim promontory ; and on the 21st ol
November the fleet anchored oif Shargah on the coast of Trucial ^ inan i
here though the weather was somewhat unfavourable, a magnificent Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
was held on board the “Argonaut” for the Chiefs of the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , a
speech recapitulating the history of the relations of the British Government
with the Chiefs was delivered by Lord Curzon, and handsome presents were
distributed to the Arab rulers.
On the 22nd of November the Viceroy arrived off Bunder Abbas and-
was received by the Persian Governor of the Gulf Ports, with much courtesy,
on behalf of His Majesty the Shah; but Lord Curzon did not land. A
deputation of British Indian subjects and traders was received on board the
“ Hardin^e;” and, in receiving an address which they presented, Lord Curzon
dwelt at lens;th on tlie subject of British trade and British interests in t ie
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; before leaving Bunder Abbas His Excellency lauded on the
islands of Kishm and Hormuz. The next morning the squadron left for
Heniam. and from Henjam the Viceroy in the Lawrence and the Naval
Commander-in-Chief in the “ Sphinx ” coasted along the island ot Kishm,
arriving on the 24th of November at Bassidore where the British station was
inspected. The same evening the entire fleet reassembled at Lmgah and H e
Excellency entertained the Governor of the Gulf Ports at a dinner on board
the “ Hariin-e,” where the health of the Shah of Persia was proposed by Lord
Curzon anl a cordial reply was made by the Persian Governor ; the town and
the Persian vessel “ Persepolis ” were handsomely illuminated.
On the afternoon of the following day, the _ 25 th of November tbe Viceroy
sailed for Bahrein where he arrived on the morning of the 20th of November,
onlv the “ Harlinge,” “ Pomone,” “ Sphinx ” and“ Lawrence ’ proceeding to
tlm inncr and,ora J. Here a deputation from the Sheikh
nn hoard and in the afternoon the Sheikh in person paid an oinciad visit to ns
P vctdlonev on the “ Hardinge in the evening the Viceroy landed informa y
at Manamah and was entertained by the Sheikh at the British Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. mt i a
the usages of Arab hospitality. An address was also JX 27th I1 of December
Indian traders settled in Bahrein. On the morning of the 27th ot Uecemoer
Sheikh Isa paid a private visit to the Viceroy at which matters of business were
discussed.
Next morning the “ Hardinge ” anchored in Koweit Bay, where the l^ger
ships of the squadron had preceded her ; the Sheikh
the ship and in the afternoon he paid an oflicial visit to Lord Uuz y
whom he was presented uith a sword of honour. 4 f
visit Lord Curzon examined the headwaters of the bay m the S[ . ,
morning His Excellency landed at Bunder Shuweikh a
west of Koweit, and drove in a carriage with the Sheikh t° f
in the town : a remarkable demonstration had been organised along the loute or
mounted and dismounted forces of Koweit, and P^™ - ytroTgrantel
unusual fervour added eelat to the scene. In the afternoon the Viceroy gra^te
a private interview to Sheikh Mubarak on board ship and political questions
wi re discussed.