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 A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.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 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.
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.