Correspondence exchanged between the German Consulate at Buschär [Bushire] (Helmuth Listemann) and others: the Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh] representative of the German firm Robert Wönckhaus and Company (Herr H Rosenfeld; Herr Krumpeter); the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox); German Government officials at the Auswärtiges Amt (Foreign Office) in Berlin, the German Chargé d’Affaires in Tehran (Hartmann Oswald Heinrich Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen).The correspondence refers to a dispute over a concession for the mining and shipment of red oxide at Abū Mūsá, originally awarded to Arab merchants by Shaikh Sālim bin Sulṭān Āl Qāsimī of Sharjah in 1898, and part of which was subsequently acquired by Wönckhaus and Company in 1906. The dispute was sparked by the Ruler of Sharjah, Shaikh Ṣaqr bin Khālid Āl Qāsimī’s cancellation of the concession in 1907, and subsequent claims by Wönckhaus and Company and the German Government, over financial losses arising from the cancellation of the concession.Amongst the papers are copies of correspondence, agreements and other papers dating between 1892 and 1907, relating to the original contract to mine red oxide at Abū Mūsá. Many of these agreements are in Arabic, with most accompanied by English translations.The majority of the file’s correspondence is in German. Official letters exchanged between the German Consul at Bushire and the British Political Resident are in French.1 file (263 folios)The file’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end.The subject 4949 (Abu Musa oxide) consists of six volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/318-323. The volumes are divided into six parts, with each part comprising one volume. Part 6 (IOR/L/PS/10/323) is missing.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 263; these numbers are printed, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
The volume consists mainly of six bound compilations of treaties and undertakings, together with related correspondence and other supplementary material, made between the British Government and the British Protectorates of the Persian Gulf, 1820-1919. These treaty compilations were published by the Government of India in 1919 and comprise: the Trucial Treaties to January 1906, Treaties with Rulers of Kuwait from 1841 to 1913, Treaties with the Sultan of Oman and Muscat from 1845 to 1914, Undertakings with the Trucial Chiefs of Oman from 1911 to 1912, Treaties with the Shaikh of Mohammerah from 1899 to 1919 and Treaties with the Rulers of Bahrain from 1820 to 1914. In addition, there is a separate Foreign Office ‘Memorandum on British Commitments (During the War) to the Gulf Chiefs’ made in 1916, which contains at Appendix A, the English text of the treaty made with the Ruler of Qatar in 1916. The treaty compilations are published in English and Arabic, except for the treaties with the Shaikh of Mohammerah, which are published in English and Persian.1 volume (222 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 2902 (Treaties and Engagements between the British Government and the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf) consists of one volume.Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 216; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and ending flyleaves. A previous foliation sequence has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
The file contains case correspondence, including several witness statements and a few Kuwait Political Agency court proceedings, relating to the investigation and prosecution of several criminal offences. These are mainly cases of assault and theft committed in Kuwait against Indian and Persian foreign residents and reported by the victims to the Political Agent. Both the perpetrators and victims of these crimes include Government of India staff employed at the Kuwait Political Agency and the Kuwait Post Office. The main correspondents are Major James Carmichale More, Political Agent, Kuwait and Shaikh Salim ab-Subah [Āl Ṣabāḥ, Shaikh Sālim bin Mubārak], Emir of Kuwait, whose letter exchanges are in Arabic, together with English translations. Some of the petitions and letters of complaint submitted by the victims to the Political Agent, are written in Arabic and in a very few cases, in Persian.1 file (209 folios)Files papers are arranged more or less chronologically.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 211; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 1-210; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
The file contains case correspondence, including several witness statements and a record of hearing proceedings held at the British Political Agency in Kuwait. These case papers relate to the investigation and resolution of 27 individual claims that were submitted to the Political Agent, Kuwait by resident British Indian subjects, merchants in India and others. The majority of claims concern either the non-payment of debts, goods or services, or land and property rights. The correspondence is mainly between the Political Agent at Kuwait and the individual claimants and defendants in each case. There are several letters, statements and notes in Arabic, two statements of account in Persian relating to goods purchased on credit, one letter of claim in French and one short note in Tamil.1 file (299 folios)At the front of the file is a table of contents entitled ‘Index’. It lists each civil case according to the name of the claimant and the nature of their claim, together with the folio reference (described as the ‘page’ reference) on which the case papers begin. The folio reference given in the table of contents belongs to a superseded foliation sequence, which is written in pencil, but not circled. Each set of case papers appear in the file in chronological order, based on the commencement date of the claim. Within each individual case record, the claim papers are also arranged in approximate chronological order.Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 301; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional irregular foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 8-300; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are at times crossed out. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
This volume is a printed account of the official winter tour of 1886-87 in Babylonia, Assyria and Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) undertaken by Colonel William Tweedie, Bengal Staff Corps, Political Resident in Turkish Arabia (Iraq) and His Majesty's Consul-General at Baghdad. The purpose of the tour was to visit the Vice-Consulate of Mosul in Upper Mesopotamia and the Consulate at Bussorah [Basra], as well as Indian subjects residing in Karbala and Najaf, the two centres of Shiah pilgrimage. In addition, the author identifies it as an opportunity to see the inhabitants and features of Turkish Arabia more generally (folio 7). The report was published by the British Residency Baghdad on 24 May 1887, and printed by the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, India in 1888. This copy was presented by the author to George Curzon (see inscription on folio 2v).The volume contains a table of contents (folio 5), list of maps and illustations (folio 6), and note on Arabic and Persian transliteration and names (folio 6v). The volume includes the following sections: 'Section I.- Marching in Turkish Arabia'; 'Section II.- Transport'; 'Section III.- Equipment'; 'Section IV.- From Tigris to Euphrates'; 'Section V.- Across Al Jazîrah [al-Jazīrah]'; 'Section VI.- Localised Bedouins east of Tigris'; 'Section VII.- Through Al Hawîja [al-Ḥawījah] to Kirkûk'; 'Section VIII.- Kirkûk to Sulimânîa [Sulaymānīyah]'; 'Section IX.- Sulimânîa to Mosul'; 'Section X.- Mosul to Sinjâr Hills', including details about the Yazîdîs [Yazidis]; 'Section XI.- Sinjâr to Der on the Euphrates'; 'Section XII.- Right bank of Euphrates, from Der to Rumâdi [al-Ramādī]'; 'Section XIII.- Southern Shâmîya'; 'Section XIV.- Karbalâ and Najaf'; and 'Section XV.- Baghdad to Bussorah and back, by steamer', including details on Arab coast of the Persian Gulf and Muhamarah.Illustrations include: 'Resident's Camp, Turkish Arabia, 1886' (folio 7v); 'Mule gear equally for draught and pack' (folio 8); 'Arab pâlân [
pālān, pack-saddle]' and 'Persian pâlân' (folio 9); 'Arab Camel-rider: and Saddle' and 'Horseshoe of Arabs, Persians, Turkomans, Afghans, and others' (folio 9v); 'Picqueting chain and peg (forefront)' and 'Arab and Persian paiwand' (folio 10); 'Arab rashma [
rashmah]: including (1) rashma proper, or (iron) nose-band: (2) idhâr [
‘idhār]
,or headstall: and (3) rasn [
rasan] (lit. rope) or rein' (folio 10v); and 'Flying camp: Sinjâr to Karbala (all three tents Baghdad-made)' (folio 24).Maps include: 'Map Accompanying Account by Resident, Turkish Arabia, of his Winter-Tour, 1886-87' (folio 4v); 'Sketch of Map of Route from Hît to Tikrît crossing lower portion of Al-Jazîra' (folio 14v); 'Mosul Pashâlik, 1887' and 'Plan of Mosul Town (After Capt. F. Jones), 1852' (folio 18v); and 'Straightest route (across Syrian desert) for camel riders only, between Baghdad and Mediterranean, as followed by late (Consular) dromedary post' (folio 27).1 volume (35 folios)This volume contains a page of contents (folio 5) which references page numbers.Condition: Folio 34 includes annotation (likely by Curzon) and a section of text has been cut out and removed.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Circular N. 5445 from the Secretary to the Government at Bombay Castle, Henry Lacon Anderson, to the Resident in the Persian Gulf, transmitting the printed copy of a translation to Persian of a general order issued by the Governor General of India in Council announcing the victory gained by the Allied Forces over the Russian troops in the Battle of Alma.10 folios
Compendium of short texts, extracts and notes on scientific and philosophical subjects, compiled by Aḥmad ibn Sulaymān Ghūjārātī (أحمد بن سليمان غوجاراتي; d. 1681), and completed in Dhū al-ḥijjah 1134/September-October 1722 (see note on f. 5r).The manuscript was later owned by the compiler's grandson, Muḥammad Riḍā ibn Ghulām Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Sulaymān (محمد رضا ابن غلام محمد بن أحمد بن سليمان), at Surat, who added ten lines of verse on 18 Ramaḍān 1141/17 April 1729 (see f. 250v, lines 11-14).Amongst the more lengthy and readily indentifiable contents are the following:(1) Extract from Quṭb al-Dīn al-Shīrāzī (قطب الدين الشيرازي),
Kitāb Nuzhat al-qulūb(كتاب نزهة القلوب) [Arabic] (f. 1v);(2) Extract from
Rabī‘ al-abrār(ربيع الأبرار) by al-Zamakhsharī (الزمخشري) [Arabic] (ff. 2r-2v);(3) Method for
istikhārah(استخارة) prayer [Persian] (f. 3v);(4) Collection of extracts, notes and riddles on various subjects [Persian and Arabic] (ff. 5v-19r);(5) Notes on the following text and other subjects [Persian and Arabic] (ff. 23v-25v);(6) al-Bīrūnī (البيروني),
Maqālah fī rāshīkāt al-hind(مقالة في راشيكات الهند) (ff. 26r-35v);(7) Abū Ja‘far al-Khāzin (أبو جعفرالخازن),
Burhān ākhar ‘alá al-shakl al-sābi‘ min kitāb Banī Mūsá(برهان آخر على الشكل السابع من كتاب بني موسى) [Arabic] (ff. 36r-39r);(8) Extracts from
Kitāb ṣanf fī fann al-rājī wa-laṭā’ifihi(كتاب صنف في فن الراجي ولطائفه),
Ta’rīkh Makkah(تأريخ مكّة) by Quṭb al-Khafī (قطب الخفي), and
Musurgia universalis(كتاب في الموسيقى; Rome: 1650) by Athanasius Kircher (أتهانازيوس كيرﭼروس الفرنكي) [Arabic and Persian] (ff. 39v-45b);(9) Extract from a treatise on trigonometry [Arabic] (ff. 46v-49r);(10) Banū Mūsá (بنو موسى),
al-Shakl al-sādis ‘ashr min Kitāb ma‘rifat misāḥat al-ashkāl al-basīṭah wa-al-kurīyah(الشكل السادس عشر من كتاب معرفة مساحة الأشكال البسيطة والكرية) [Arabic] (ff. 50r-52v);(11) Extracts on various geometrical subjects including a passage from the
De sphaera et cylindro(Περὶ σφαίρας καὶ κυλίνδρου; كتاب الكرة والأسطوانة) by Archimedes (أرشميدس), methods for determining the direction of the qiblah at Akbārābād and Burhānpūr, and an extract entitled
al-Risālah lil-kurah al-mutaḥarikah bi-ḥarikah dā’imah(الرسالة للكرة [!] المتحركة بحركة دائمة; perhaps
De sphaera quae movertur[Περὶ κινουμένης σφαίρας; كتاب الكرة المتحركة] by Autolycus of Pitane [Αὐτόλυκος ὁ Πιταναῖος; أوطولوقس]) [Arabic and Persian] (ff. 53r-57v);(12) Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī (نصير الدين الطوسي),
Fī bayān annahu lā yumkin an yajtama‘ min ‘adadayn murabba‘ayn fardayn‘adad murabba‘(في بيان أنه لا يمكن أن يجتمع من عددين مربعين فردين عدد مربع) [Arabic] (f. 58r);(13) Two riddles by Bahā’ al-Dīn al-‘Āmilī (بهاء الدين العاملي) [Arabic] (ff. 76v-81r);(14) Bahā’ al-Dīn al-‘Āmilī (بهاء الدين العاملي)
Tashrīḥ al-aflāk[Arabic] (ff. 113v-123r);(15) Ḥusayn ibn Ibrāhīm al-Tankābanī (حسين بن إبراهيم التنكاباني),
Risālah fī ithbāt ḥudūth al-‘ālam(رسالة في إثبات حدوث العالم) [Arabic] (ff. 125r-128r);(16) Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwīyah (يزيد ابن معاوية),
Qaṣīdah mīmīyah(قصيدة ميمية) [Arabic] (ff. 131r-131v and 146r);(17) Extract from the Fifth Treatise (رسالة) of the Ikhwān al-Ṣafā’ (إخوان الصفاء) on music [Arabic] (ff. 140v-142v);(18) Archimedes (أرشميدس),
Kitāb fī qismat shakl samāhu bil-sīṭumāshīyūn(كتاب في قسمة شكل سماه بالسيطماشيون) [Arabic] (ff. 143r-145r);(19) Treatise on
tawḥīd(توحيد) by Muḥammad Afḍal al-Dīn (محمد أفضل الدين) [defective at end; Arabic] (ff. 184r-191r);(20) Qusṭā ibn Lūqā (قسطا بن لوقا),
Maqālah fī al-burhān ‘alá ḥisāb al-khaṭā’ayn[Arabic] (مقالة في البرهان على حساب الخطائين) (ff. 191r-194r);(21) Extract from the
al-Muḥallá(المحلّى) by Ibn Ḥazm (ابن حزم) [Arabic] (ff. 225r-228v);(22) Extract from a work by Bahā’ al-Dīn al-‘Āmilī (بهاء الدين العاملي) concerning density [Arabic] (f. 233r);(23) A qaṣīdah by Khālid ibn Ṣawān Fayyāḍ (خالد بن صفوان فياض) known as
al-‘Arūs(العروس) [Arabic] (ff. 234r-241r);(24) Bahā’ al-Dīn al-‘Āmilī (بهاء الدين العاملي), the conclusion (خاتمة) from the
Khulāṣat al-ḥisāb(خلاصة الحساب) [Arabic] (ff. 249r-250r);(25) Ten lines of verse by Muḥammad Riḍā ibn Ghulām Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Sulaymān (محمد رضا ابن غلام محمد بن أحمد بن سليمان) [Arabic] (f. 250v).Codex; ff. ii+250+iMaterial: PaperDimensions: 195 x 130 mm leaf [135 x 85 mm written]Foliation: Eastern Arabic foliation in black ink; India Office foliation in Western Arabic numerals stamped in black inkRuling:
Misṭarah; average of 17 lines per page; vertical spacing 13 lines per 10 cmScript:
Naskh; the scribe is Aḥmad ibn Sulaymān Ghūjārātī (أحمد بن سليمان غوجاراتي)Ink: Black ink, with rubricated headings and occasional overlinings in redBinding: British Museum binding with leather from previous cover pasted to front and back of current bindingCondition: Very minor worm damageMarginalia: Numerous by hand of compiler
Letter containing a bundle of letters in Persian for Lewis Pelly's information. The letters are primarily between Persian and Afghani officials and include a forwarding letter from William Lockyer Merewether who initially received them. Many of the letters in Persian are written in an illegible hand.Letter from William Lockyer Merewether, Jacobabad to Lewis Pelly, 26 December 1860 informing him that a packet had been received from Kandahar for Pelly with an accompanying note in Persian (folio 1).Note in Persian, possibly written by Nawab Murat Khan enclosing a bundle of fourteen letters and notes written by officials of the Governor of Persia, including Farukh Khan, and individuals in Afghanistan including Sultan Ahmed Khan, Governor of Herat.Note in Persian, possibly addressed to Lewis PellyPetition in Persian, possibly the Petition of Maulay MūsāPetition in Persian, containing the seals of Ghulām Rasūl and Ghulām Rizā 'Abduh who may be the petitionees. There is a partial date of 10 Rabi' II, but no year is given.1 file (12 folios)This file has no discernable arrangement.Foliation: The file has been foliated using a pencil number, enclosed in a circle, located in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio.
The letter informs of the appointment of Captain MacLeod. A translation of a letter similar to this one appears on folio 97.1 folioCondition: Missing text due to tear damage.
Notable contents include:Commentary on Naṣīr al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ṭūsī's (نصير الدين محمد بن محمد الطوسي; d. 1274) edition of Euclid's (Εὐκλείδης; أقليدس; fl. 300 BC)
Elements(الأصول) (ff. 86v-88r);Text by Naṣīr al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ṭūsī's (نصير الدين محمد بن محمد الطوسي; d. 1274) (ff.88v-89v);Commentary on Ptolemy's (بطلميوس, Claudius Ptolemaeus; c 90-c 168)
Almagest(كتاب المجسطي) (f. 90r);A text on determining the
qiblah(في معرفة سمت القبلة) by Abū al-Rayḥān Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Bīrūnī (أبو الريحان محمد بن أحمد البيروني, ca 973-1048) (ff. 91v-92r);A text on determining the
qiblah(في معرفة سمت القبلة) by Naṣīr al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ṭūsī's (نصير الدين محمد بن محمد الطوسي; d. 1274) (f. 92v);A text on catoptrics, with elaborate diagrams (ff. 94r-95r);Commentry on Euclid (Εὐκλείδης; أقليدس; fl. 300 BC) (ff. 95v-96r);Figure comprising all the figures in Euclid's (Εὐκλείδης; أقليدس; fl. 300 BC)
Elements(الأصول), Book One (ff. 97v-98r);Extract from Qāḍīzāde al-Rūmī's (قاضي زاده الرومي; d. after 1440) commentary on Maḥmūd al-Jaghmīnī's (محمود الجغميني; fl. first half of 13th century)
al-Mulakhkhaṣ fī ‘ilm al-hay’ah al-basīṭah(98v-99r);Extract from al-Qūshjī (القوشجي; d. 1474) (1092v-103r);Extract from Kamāl al-Dīn al-Fārisī's (كمال الدين حسن الفارسي; d. 1319)
Tanqīḥ manāẓir Ibn al-Haytham(تنقيح مناظر ابن الهيثم; ff114v-115).Ff. 86v-117r
Second part of a collection of Naṣīr al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ṭūsī's (نصير الدين محمد بن محمد الطوسي; d. 1274) editions (تحارير) of the so-called 'intermediate [books] (متوسطات)', Arabic versions of ancient Greek mathematical and astronomical texts and Arabic responses to them which were meant to be read after Euclid's
Elementsand in preparation for Ptolemy's
Almagest. The first part of this collection is found in manuscript IO Islamic 1249.The script, ornamentation and binding of the volume indicate that it is part of a set comprising also manuscripts IO Islamic 924 and IO Islamic 1249. Since the latter was transcribed in 1198/1784, probably for Warren Hastings, Governor-General of Bengal from 1772 to 1785 (see front paper ii recto), the collation notes in this manuscript dated to the months of Jumādá I and Sha‘bān without indication of the year probably refer to 1198 (March-April and June-July 1784).A descriptive title in Persian is found on front paper ii recto, and tables of contents in Persian and English are given on front paper iii recto.Contents:(1) Autolycus (أوطولوقس),
De sphaera quae movetur(تحرير كتاب الكرة المتحركة; ff. 1v-10r);(2) Theodosius (ثاوذوسيوس),
De habitationibus(تحرير كتاب المساكن; ff. 11v-21r);(3) Theodosius (ثاوذوسيوس),
De diebus et noctibus(كتاب في الأيام والليالي; ff. 23v-51r);(4) Aristarchus (أرسطرخس),
De magnitudinibus et distantiis solis et lunae(في جرمي النيرين وبعديهما; ff. 52v-69r);(5) Euclid (أقليدس),
Elements, Book 1 (مقالهٔ اولى از كتاب اقليدس; ff. 71v-95r)(6) Euclid (أقليدس),
De levi et ponderoso(في الثقل والخفة وقياس الأجرام بعضها إلى بعض; ff. 98v-101r).Codex; ff. vi+101+ivMaterial: PaperDimensions: 209 x 120 mm leaf [130 x 58 mm written]Foliation: British Museum foliation in pencilRuling:
Misṭarah; 12 lines per page; vertical spacing 9 lines per 10 cmScript:
Nasta‘līqInk: Black ink, with rubricated headings and overlinings in redDecoration: Every opening and every page has a border in gold, black and red ink; the first opening (ff. 1v-2r) is extensively illuminated in gold, red, green and blueBinding: Hybrid binding with European and Islamic-style features; gilt tooled; leather doublureCondition: Excellent condition; book block re-sewn, boards reattached and spine replacedMarginalia: Very few and all appear to be by copyistSeals: Ff. 1r and 101v