Correspondence relating to arrangements for the payment of Indian military pensions for individuals either residing in Bahrain, or who have worked in Bahrain and wish to return to British India. The file’s principal correspondents are: the Political Agent at Bahrain; the Secretary to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Deputy Assistant Controller of Military Accounts, Northern Command and Rawalpindi District. The file includes an extract of the Civil Accounts Code, Volume II, entitled ‘Payments to Pensioners–, etc.’ (ff 12-13), and a letter (in Urdu with English translation) from pensioner Havildar Bahadur Khan of the 28 Light Cavalry (ff 18-19).1 file (22 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 foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 25; 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 also present in parallel between ff 4-22; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
The file contains correspondence in the form of telegrams, letters, and reports related to the British Government’s proposal for the creation of a Levy Corps at Muscat. The proposed Levy is to be commanded, armed, paid and equipped through British or Indian officers. The primary object for the proposed Levy Corps is to enable the withdrawal of the Indian troops at present garrisoning in the towns of Muscat and Matrah and the regular troops at Bait el-Falaj [Bayt al-Falaj], and to replace them with a locally raised force sufficient to assert the Sultan’s authority and defend his capital against rebellious tribesmen.British Officials discussed the importance of obtaining an undertaking from the Sultan of Muscat and Oman not to arrange any treaties with foreign powers without the agreement of His Majesty’s Government. They also discussed the export of arms by the Sultan and the conditions of the arms traffic convention.The file includes copies of proclamations issued by the Sultan of Muscat and Oman regarding the establishment of an armed force of artillery and infantry to be recruited from the coastal towns in the immediate neighbourhood of Muscat, mainly, Matrah, Riyam, Kalbu, Sidab, and Mutairah. The proclamations include the law of enrolment in the local Levy Corps. The correspondence in the file also includes copies of a 'Scheme with Estimates for Raising and Maintaining a Levy Corps for Muscat' prepared by the Political Agent, Muscat.The main correspondents in the file are: the Political Agent, Muscat; the Political Resident, Bushire; the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign and Political Department; and the Inspector General, Imperial Service Troops, Simla.Most of the correspondence in the file is dated 1913-1921 apart from folio 241 which is a note page dated 12 February 1935.1 file (240 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 242; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
This file contains correspondence between British officials concerning the European (or Christian) cemeteries in Muscat. Much of the correspondence is between British diplomatic and naval officials concerning their general upkeep and maintenance. As such, a number of lists of those individuals buried in both the new and old European cemeteries are contained in the file (folios 41 and 85-87).The file also contains correspondence between the Political Agency in Muscat and the Imperial War Graves Commission regarding the replacement of two broken gravestones in the cemetery, as well as the construction and delivery of two gravestones for British military personnel buried in Muscat (this includes images of the designs on folios 51-52). The two men are named as Lieutenant J Morgan of the Royal Engineers and Engine Room Artificer, C W D Kaye.On folio 61 the file contains a letter in Urdu that was sent from the British Agency in Gwadur [Gwadar] to the British Political Agency in Muscat.1 file (99 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 101; 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 4-36 and between ff 48-100; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
The file contains copies of covering letters and extracts of the 1873 Slave Trade Proclamation sent between 1926 and 1938. The letters were sent by Political Residency staff to British representatives in the political agencies in Muscat, Bahrain and Kuwait. The file contains five copies of the extracts of the Proclamation prohibiting slave trade, in five languages (English, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada and Urdu). The file also includes copies of letters requesting investigations into the kidnapping of a young male slave in Karachi (folios 1C-6).1 file (38 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 31; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The file contains seven foliation anomalies: f 1a, f 1b, f 1c, f 18a, f 25a, f 26a and f 27a.
This volume contains correspondence and documents regarding the creation and management of a garden attached to the Political Agency in Muscat.Most of the correspondence in the volume is between officials of the Political Agency in Muscat and various horticultural suppliers and specialists in India, including both private companies and Municipal officials of the Government of India, concerning the purchase of seeds, plants and equipment for the garden.It also contains a small amount of correspondence between the Political Agency in Muscat and individuals hired for employment in the garden, some of which is in Arabic and Urdu.1 volume (255 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 257; 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 5-238; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. The volume has one foliation anomaly, f 50a.
The file contains correspondence relating to the discharge of Fazal Hussein, clerk, from Bahrain Government service in July 1928. The correspondence is mostly between the Political Agent, Bahrain, Commandant of Bahrain State Police (Captain L S Parke), Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Fazal Hussein himself, and Bahrain-based merchants, the Ashraf Brothers.The file covers several matters, including:the discussion over the reasons for the dismissal of Fazal Hussein and Sultan Ahmed, also an employee of the Bahrain Police Force;a claim by the Ashraf Brothers that Fazal Hussein owes them money;Fazal Hussein's return to Bahrain from India and his movements in the country;a claim by Ali Muhammad of Hazur Pur, sepoy, for unpaid wages from service in the Bahrain Police Force.1 file (44 folios)The file is arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 46; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
The file contains correspondence related to assistance provided by the Political Agent, Kuwait, and other Government of India offices to the Shaikh of Kuwait. The correspondence is mostly between the Political Agent, Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, Government of India (Political Department), Political Offices in Basra and Baghdad, and the succeeding Shaikhs of Kuwait (Mobarak [Shaikh Mubarak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ], Jabir [Shaikh Jābir II al-Mubārak Āl Ṣabāḥ], Salim [Shaikh Sālim bin Mubārak Āl Ṣabāḥ], and Ahmed [Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ]). Further correspondence is from the Revenue and Judicial Commissioner in Baluchistan, Office of the Comptroller at the India Treasuries, Basra Customs House, Civil Transport Officer at Basra, High Commissioner for Iraq, British Legation in Tehran, Political Agent, Bahrain, several Kuwaiti merchants, and a number of British firms wishing to sell their products to the Shaikh.The file contains the following:papers concerning the destruction of locusts, including 'Memorandum on the Destruction of Locusts', 12 June 1902, by Major J Ramsay, Political Agent and Deputy Commissioner, Quetta-Peshin (folios 6-9)papers connected to assistance given to the Shaikh for the manning, repairs, and purchase of parts for his boatspapers concerning the loan of vessels to people close to the Shaikhpapers related to the arrangements for loans from the Government of India to the Shaikhpapers connected to assistance given to the Shaikh for the purchase of a variety of things, such as hawks, motor cars, garden produce, and paintcorrespondence, customs receipts, and export statements connected to the regular check that imports from Fao were for the Shaikh's personal use (and thus exempt from duty) as declaredpapers connected to assistance given to Kuwaiti merchants in India and Persiapapers concerning the exemption from Indian custom duty given to the Sultan of Muscat and the Shaikhs of Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatarcatalogues from various British firms hoping to conduct business with the Shaikhpapers connected to the case of stolen camels and the effort to track them down.1 file (621 folios)The file is arranged in rough chronological order.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 623; 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 2-355; these numbers are also written in pencil or crayon, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
The file contains correspondence relating to requests submitted to the Political Agent, Bahrain for assistance in legal matters from persons employed by local firms in Bahrain, including the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO).There is only one document in Urdu.1 file (6 folios)The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file, and terminate in a set of notes (folio 7).Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 8; 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 appears in parallel between ff 2-6; these numbers appear in the same position as the main sequence, but are not circled.
The file consists of correspondence relating to the murder of two officers of the Bahrain Levy Corps. The correspondence is between the Political Agency in Bahrain, Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, Political Agent in Muscat, Adjutant General in India, Colonization Officer in India, Political Residency in Kashmir, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain (Charles Dalrymple Belgrave) and the widows of the two officers.Subedar Niaz Ali Khan and Havildar Nurdad were shot and killed by another Levy Corps sepoy on 4 August 1926. The papers cover several matters relating to this, including:arrangements for their families return to India;transfer of their land to their heirs;compensation for their wives.1 file (39 folios)The file is arranged chronologically from the front to the rear of the file.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 41; 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 2-40; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Continuing on from the previous file (IOR/R/15/6/268), this file mainly concerns the deputation of Pakistan Army officers with the Muscat Infantry (also referred to as the Muscat Levy Corps).Matters covered in the correspondence include the following: the possibility of extending the deputation in Muscat of a Pakistan Army officer; the training of Muscat Infantry personnel with the Pakistan Army; the future supply of officers to the Muscat Infantry. Also discussed is the case of a former VCO (Viceroy's Commissioned Officer of the British Indian Army) and his claim for outstanding pay from his time in the Muscat Infantry in the 1920s and 1930s.The file's principal correspondents are the following: the Political Agent and Consul, Muscat; the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, Bahrain; the Commandant of the Muscat Infantry; officials of the Government of Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations.The Urdu language material consists of one item of correspondence.1 file (25 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 27; 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 12-26; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
This file concerns medical and educational facilities in Muscat-controlled Gwadur [Gwadar]. Most of the correspondence relates to the recruitment of staff, specifically regarding the following positions: sanitary inspector, medical officer, compounder, English teacher, and Urdu teacher. The correspondence covers the recruitment process, which is overseen by the Political Agent and Consul at Muscat. Details discussed include terms of employment, as well as travel arrangements and expenses for the successful candidates. Correspondents include the following: the Political Agent and Consul, Muscat; the British Agent, Gwadur; the Administrator, Gwadur; the Secretary to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Secretary to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman; officials of the British Government of India; officials of the governments of India and Pakistan; candidates for the two aforementioned teaching positions, and candidates for the positions of sanitary inspector and medical officer.The Urdu language material consists of a single item of correspondence.1 file (78 folios)The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. Circled serial numbers (red for received correspondence; blue/black for issued correspondence) refer to entries in the notes at the rear of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 80; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
This file relates to the Muscat territory of Gwadur [Gwadar, Pakistan; it is written as Gwadar in some of the correspondence].The file begins with discussion of a proposal from the Sultan of Muscat and Oman [Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd] to devote the whole of his Gwadur revenue to the improvement of the administration and provision of public services in the territory. The correspondence goes on to cover the appointment of an Indian administrator to carry out reforms in Gwadur, under the authorisation of the Sultan.Related matters covered in the file include the following: the views of the British Agent, Gwadur, on the most urgently required reforms at Gwadur; travel and accommodation arrangements for the newly appointed administrator and his family; details of proposed reforms in various areas, such as health and education, and plans for the founding of a municipal department at Gwadur; the administrator's resignation, following a period of ill health, and the recruitment of his successor; attempts by the British to recruit more personnel (e.g. teachers, medical officers and sanitary inspectors) from India to work in Gwadur. Included in the file is a small amount of received correspondence from various candidates applying for the aforementioned positions.The file's principal correspondents are the following: the Political Agent and Consul, Muscat; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the British Agent, Gwadur; the Administrator, Gwadur; the Sultan of Muscat and Oman [Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd]; officials of the British Government of India's External Affairs Department.The Arabic language material consists of received correspondence from the Sultan of Muscat and Oman (English translations are included). The material written in Urdu consists of one item of correspondence.1 file (276 folios)The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. Circled serial numbers (red for received correspondence; blue/black for issued correspondence) refer to entries in the notes at the rear of the file.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 278; 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 2-255; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
The file contains a private journal kept by Lewis Pelly from January to February 1865; notes taken by him during his journey to Riyadh January to March 1865; sketches, correspondence, financial accounts and other papers.Included within the file are:Extract showing a record of posting from the Bushire Post Office 16 January 1865 (f. 45)Letter from Austin Layard, Foreign Office to Sir Andrew Buchanan, 1 September 1865 regarding Pelly's intention of returning to Bushire through Russia, the Caspian and Persia and asking that Pelly be enabled to travel through these regions (f. 46-47)Letter from Austin Layard, Foreign Office to Colonel Pelly, 6 September 1865 informing him of rumours from Cairo that Sultan Feysul [Faisal ibn Turki al-Sa'ud], the Nejdean Chief has been assassinated [f. 48]Ink sketch 'H.M's Residency Steamer
May Frerefor the Persian Gulf' 1867 - possibly drawn by Captain Edwin Dawes [f. 49]Two accounts of a story of a king and his Persian slave, one written by Henry Byam Abbott 5 June 1873 and the other by Charles Allan Baylay 6 June 1873 as well as two documents in Persian, one of which is the story of a death in a bazaar in Persia. These papers appear to be attempts at translation to and from Persian being undertaken by Baylay and Abbott [ff. 50-55]Ink sketch of a building atop cliff with shoreline - possibly drawn by Captain Edwin Dawes [f. 56]List of letters to be sent by Lewis Pelly to Bushire to Captain Carew, Charles Alison and Captain Henry W Warner and briefly outlining the topics for discussion in the letters [ff. 57-58]A folio of notes titled 'explore vast solitudes and call them Russia' which contains notes about England's mission in Asia and Russian interests there [ff. 59-60]Papers containing financial accounts: one for coal, camels and horses and the other giving an exchange rate for Dollars to Rupees for an amount to be paid to Ebrahim ibn Sayed Hossein as well as detailing deductions from an account including the purchase of a horse and waterskin and an advance to camelersTwo undated letters, either in Urdu or Persian.1 file, 2 items (66 folios)The file has been arranged in chronological order, those folios without dates have been placed at the rear of the file.Foliation: The contents of the file have been foliated in the top right corner of each folio with a pencil number enclosed in a circle.Condition: There is damage to the lower portion of the first three folios, which has made some of the text difficult to read.
The file includes a letter by Ahmad Ali Khan of Rajput, written in Urdu and addressed to His Majesty the King and Parliament, London, as well as a transliteration of part of the same letter, and a note from Mr Shireff, India Office, to Mr Sutton, Foreign Office, regarding the content of Ahmad’s letter. The file includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.1 file (6 folios)The file's contents are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 8, these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
The correspondence relates to three main periods of Lewis Pelly's life: his work in India as Agent to the Governor-General, Rajpootana [Rājasthān] and subsequently at Baroda 1870-1877; his return to England in 1877 and marriage to Amy Henrietta Lowder, 1 August 1878; and his desire for re-employment with the India Office 1878-1883.The 1870-1877 correspondence is primarily from the Viceroy of India (Thomas George Baring, 2nd Baron Northbrook to April 1876; Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Baron Lytton from April 1876); the Viceroy's private secretary; and Maharajas, local chiefs and colleagues in Rajpootana. Subjects discussed include the deposition of the Gaekwar of Baroda; the Indian frontier and policy towards it; and Pelly's ailing health which eventually forces him to return to England in 1875.Pelly subsequently returns to India, accompanying Lord Lytton on a negotiating mission with the Amir of Afghanistan, and the correspondence from this period consists primarily of instructions to Pelly in regard to the negotiations.Other correspondents include journalists for the
Pall Mall Gazette,
Daily Telegraph, and
Manchester Guardianas Pelly had numerous letters and articles published in newspapers following his return to England in 1877; correspondence with George Christopher Molesworth Birdwood on both Indian affairs and publishing matters; and correspondence with Lord Lytton, the Marquess of Salisbury (Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury) and Lord Derby (Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby) 1878-1883 in which he attempts to secure employment either in India or with the India Office in London.1 file, 118 items (287 folios)The correspondence has been arranged in chronological order by date, with enclosures to items placed directly after the letter they were enclosed with.Foliation: The contents of the file have been foliated using an encircled pencil number in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio. Some of the correspondence has been renumbered and the numbers no longer in use have been crossed through.
Correspondence and other papers relating to the Persian Government’s introduction of new legislation, under which foreigners entering or resident in Persia [Iran] had to notify their presence in the country with the Persian authorities. Included in the file are copies and extracts of the new legislation, in French original, as well as in English and Urdu translation, which also includes details of new visa and customs legislation.Correspondence between the India Office (George William Rendel), Foreign Office (Charles William Baxter), British Legation in Tehran (Robert Henry Clive; Charles Dodd; Reginald Hervey Hoare), and the Government of India, discusses the implications of the new legislation for British and other foreign interests in Persia, including: British consular officers in Persia; the Anglo-Persian Oil Company; British vessels visiting Persian ports in the Persian Gulf; foreigners in motor cars in Persia; pilgrims travelling from India to Iraq via Persia.1 file (63 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 65; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
The file contains papers, mostly India Office minute papers and correspondence, relating to the deportation from the Hejaz of certain Indians for anti-British and pro-Turkish activities (as part of the silk letters movement), and their internment in Malta.The file includes correspondence between the India Office and the following: the Government of India Foreign and Political Department; the High Commissioner for Egypt, Sir (Arthur) Henry McMahon; the Foreign Office; the Colonial Office; and the War Office. The file also includes correspondence between the High Commissioner for Egypt, Sir (Arthur) Henry McMahon, and the Foreign Office, and between the High Commissioner for Egypt and the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Department.The file includes photographic copies of the silk letters, which are written in Urdu (folios 63 to 66).1 volume (155 folios)The papers are arranged in chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 157; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.