1. '[Un-numbered File] Muscat Diary 1906-1908'

Description:

Abstract: This file contains several types of documentation with information on general conditions in Oman, arrivals and departures of ships, movement of British representatives, missionary enterprises, and aviation. However, the bulk of the file consists of weekly reports containing the main political news of the day filed by the Political Agent in Muscat to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf. The reports are organised as a series of bullet points that summarize the events of each day of the week.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 113; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

2. '[Un-numbered File] Muscat Diaries 1908-1909'

Description:

Abstract: This file contains the weekly political diaries of the Political Agent in Muscat filed over the course of one year. The content of the entries vary, but include the condition of the country, arrivals and departures of ships, movement of British representatives, smuggling, missionary enterprises, aviation, and the arms trade. Diary entries tend to relate to matters of legal infringement, crime or potential for crime, or political intrigue in Oman.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 172; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

3. '[Un-numbered File] Muscat Diary 1910'

Description:

Abstract: This file contains weekly entries by the Political Agent in Muscat on the general condition of Oman; arrivals and departures of ships; movement of British representatives; missionary enterprises; and aviation. The most significant parts of the file are entries relating to political events in Oman, and relations with prominent sheikhs and regional rulers as well as the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 139; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

4. ‘Egyptian Mission. Visit of Beghet Aga Effendi on a Mission from the Vice Roy -Further proceedings reported-’

Description:

Abstract: The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence, minutes, and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, a Political Letter from the Government of Bombay to the East India Company Court of Directors, dated 30 August 1853, and found at IOR/F/4/2536/147461. It is the third in a series of seven items about the 'slave trade' [trade in enslaved people].The item concerns a recent visit to Bombay [Mumbai], Muscat and Bahrein [Bahrain] by Bihjut Effendi [Bahjat Āghā Effendī], an agent of Abbas Pasha [‘Abbās Ḥilmī Pāshā I], Viceroy of Egypt. In particular, the item relates to:Arrangements made for the transport of Bihjut Effendi from Aden to BombayAssistance provided to Bihjut Effendi by the Government of Bombay, including the chartering of a ship, the Bombay, from the Bombay Steam Navigation Company, and a loan of 25,000 dollarsArrangements for the payments to the Bombay Steam Navigation Company and for the repayment of the loan by Bihjut EffendiAssistance provided to Murad Bey [Murād Beg] during his visit to Bombay to purchase horsesReports by Khoja Hiskel bin Yusoof [Khawājah Ḥizqīl bin Yūsuf], Acting Native Agent at Muscat, and by Hajee Jassem [Ḥājjī Jāsim], Native Agent at Bahrein, on Bihjut Effendi's activities during his visits to those places, including the purchase of horsesReports that the women described in passenger lists as being part of Bihjut Effendi's entourage were actually enslaved women offered to Sheikh Mahomed ben Khuleefa [Shaikh Muḥammad bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah], Sheikh of Bahrein, as 'gifts'Concern expressed by Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Resident in the Persian Gulf, that this activity may be seen to have been condoned by the British and the potential political implications of this given their public stance against the 'slave trade'Further concern expressed by Kemball that Sheikh Mahomed ben Khuleefa is attempting to approach Abbas Pasha for assistance against Ben Saood [Amīr Fayṣal bin Turkī bin ‘Abdullāh Āl Sa‘ūd, also rendered in text as Ameer Fysul] and the implications of Turkish [Ottoman] intervention in Bahrein affairsGeneral updates from Khoja Hiskel bin Yusoof about activity at Muscat.The item also includes the Government of Bombay's instructions to forward copies of correspondence on the above subjects to Charles Augustus Murray, HM Consul-General in Egypt, and to the Government of India.Principal correspondents include: Murray; Kemball; Abbas Pasha; Bihjut Effendi; Khoja Hiskel bin Yusoof; Hajee Jassem; Luis Caetano de Menezes, Acting Manager of the Bombay Steam Navigation Company; and the Government of Bombay.There are multiple spellings for multiple individuals in the item, particularly for Bihjut Effendi, whose name is often rendered including the name Aga [Āghā].The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Bombay Political Department', Draft Number '161 1854', 'Collection', 'Vol: 3', and 'Examiner's Office'. Originally, the Collection was described as 'No. 1 of No. 85 of 1853' but this has been crossed out.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 778, and terminates at f 828, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the item also contains an original pagination sequence.

5. ‘Persian Gulf. Relative to the occurrence of certain irregularities on the Arabian Coast duties of the Honble Company’s Vessels of War and the state of affairs among the tribes up to the 13th October last.’

Description:

Abstract: The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence and minutes cited in, or enclosed with, a Political Letter from the Government of Bombay to the East India Company Court of Directors, 13 January 1853, and found at IOR/F/4/2504/142185. Further enclosures to the letter can be found at: IOR/F/4/2504/142194; IOR/F/4/2504/142195; IOR/F/4/2504/142196; IOR/F/4/2504/142198; IOR/F/4/2504/142199; and IOR/F/4/2504/142200. The item is the thirteenth in a series of sixteen items about the Persian Gulf.The item contains reports from Lieutenant G N Adams, Commanding Company frigate Queen, and Lieutenant James Tronson, Commanding Company ship Tigris, to Commodore George Robinson, Commanding Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf. Robinson forwards these reports to Captain Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Resident in the Persian Gulf. The reports concern:Adams's recent cruise to the Arabian and Persian [Iranian] coasts of the Gulf, and in particular his discussion with Sheik Abdulla ben Sultan ben Suggur, Governor of Shargah [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Sulṭān bin Ṣaqr, Governor of Sharjah], concerning the latter's recent dispute with Hajee Yacoob [Ḥājjī Ya‘qūb], Agent at ShargahTronson's recent cruise to the Arabian Coast, and in particular a discussion he had with Sheik Saeed ben Butye, Sheik of Debaie [Shaikh Sa‘īd bin Buṭṭī, Shaikh of Dubai], concerning a recent act of 'piracy' committed by the latter's subjects against a subject of Shargah.The item also contains Kemball's responses to Robinson, in which he states:Independent Arab rulers are not obliged to visit the squadron's vessels if conditions are unsuitable, alluding to a recent case involving Sheik Sultan ben Suggur [Shaikh Sulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī, Shaikh of Ra’s al-Khaymah and Sharjah]Tronson acted beyond his authority in his discussion with the Sheik of Debaie.Kemball includes a copy of a letter from Sheik Sultan regarding his first point, and a copy of a letter from his predecessor, Samuel Hennell, to Robinson's predecessor, Commodore Porter, dated 23 October 1850, regarding his second point. He forwards copies of the reports and his responses to Robinson to the Government of Bombay, who also share their opinions on the above correspondence.Additionally, the item contains reports from Hajee Yacoob to Kemball regarding the state of affairs among the tribes of the Arabian Coast, in particular concerning:Relations between Sheik Saeed bin Tahnoon, Sheik of Aboothabee [Shaikh Sa‘īd bin Ṭaḥnūn Āl Nahyān, Shaikh of Abu Dhabi], and Sheik Sultan ben SuggurRecent disturbances in Debaie linked to the contested succession to leadership of the Boo Felasa tribe [Āl Bū Falāsah]Recent attack on Sheik Saeed ben Butye's subjects near Wukrah [Al Wakrah].Kemball forwards these reports to the Government of Bombay, who in turn forward them to the Government of India.The item contains multiple spellings of multiple personal names and place names.The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Bombay Political Department', 'Draft No. 350 of 1853', 'Collection No. 1 of No. 8 of 1853', 'Vol: 13', and 'Examiner's Office'. Originally, the Collection number was given as '4' but this has been crossed out.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 1239, and terminates at f 1259, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the item also contains an original pagination sequence.

6. 'Political Affairs of Muscat and Oman'

Description:

Abstract: The papers in these volumes contain correspondence on political affairs in Oman, especially British financial support for the Sultan Turkee bin Sa'id during a rebellion against his authority by various tribes. Other topics discussed in the papers include Sayyid `Abd al-Aziz's property in Zanzibar; jurisdiction of the British consulate over Indian subjects in Muscat; intrigue by the Sultan's nephew, Sayyid Salim, his allowance and expenditure and the Sultan's subsidy and expenses from the British government.Physical description: Foliation: this file consists of three physical volumes. The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio of volume one (ff 1-182), volume two (ff 183-366) and terminates at the last folio of volume three (ff 367-556); 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 1-556; these numbers are printed, and are not circled. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers of the volumes. The file has one foliation anomaly, f 159a.

7. 'Political'

Description:

Abstract: This file contains letters that cover a wide variety of subjects. This includes diplomatic correspondence, general political administration, court statements and petitions, as well as trade reports and some general commercial matters. The majority of the file consists of correspondence between the Political Agent in Muscat and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf or the Government of India. The file also contains letters by Qais bin Azzan, Sultan of Muscat and Oman in Arabic and a number of other Arabic and Gujurati language letters by both Omani ship captains, and British Indian subjects writing to the Political Agent in Muscat.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 489; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

8. 'Political'

Description:

Abstract: This file contains two primary types of correspondence. The first is letters between the British Political Agent in Muscat, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Charles Ross and the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire. The file also contains correspondence between the British Political Agent in Muscat and various Omani political and tribal authorities. The subject matter of the letters includes administration report and trade returns from 1877-1878, and the marriage of the Sultan's eldest son. However, the first half of the papers pertains to the attempt by the Sultan's brother, Sayyid Abdul Aziz, to organise a rebellion against his brother in Muscat among the tribes of the interior of Oman.All the letters received from Omani figures are included as both transcriptions made by Political Agency officials in Muscat and translations from the original Arabic. The original letters are not included.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 207; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

9. 'Political'

Description:

Abstract: This file consists of exchanges to do with events and personalities in or around Gwadur [Gwadar] on the Makran Coast of Baluchistan. The file includes a list of important personalities in Oman, and the 1882 administration report and trade returns. The end of the file consists of an extensive biographical sketch of Sultan Sayyid Sa`id ibn Sultan by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Barrett Miles.In between these items are letters on incidents of plunder and looting in Gwadur. They include subsequent applications to the Political Agency for countermeasures or compensation by British protected subjects and responses from the Sultan of Oman's governor (Wali) in Gwadur at the time, Sayyid bin Musallem.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 136; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

10. 'Political'

Description:

Abstract: This file contains papers that discuss the possible annexation of Khor Fakhan, Kalba and Dibba by Oman from June-July 1886, as well as administration report and trade returns from 1885-86. The file also contains a discrete report on weights and measures employed in the pearl trade in the Gulf by Lieutenant Colonel Edward Mockler the Political Agent in Muscat, as well as separate reports entitled 'Notes of a tour through Oman and Dhahira' by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Barrett Miles. Ancillary papers discuss relations between Oman and Sharjah.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 66; 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.

11. 'Political Diary of Political Agency'

Description:

Abstract: This file is a chronicle of political events in Oman submitted by the Political Resident in Muscat to the Political Resident in Bushire at fortnightly intervals. The contents of the fortnightly reports vary widely, but are recorded for their significance or relevance to the political situation in Oman or the wider Gulf. The report often contain the names of significant individuals involved in events, disputes, or business dealings. The reports take the form of lists of daily events when and where the Agent in Muscat thought them relevant to record. This format is especially visible toward the end of the file.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 352; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

12. 'File XI A/14 Muscat Diaries'

Description:

Abstract: This file contains the daily political diaries of the Political Agent in Muscat. It includes information categorised under the condition of the country, arrivals and departures of ships, movement of British representatives, missionary enterprises, aviation and other subheadings. Many of the events recorded pertain to exchanges and visits between leading notables and merchants of Oman and the Gulf and their relations to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 173; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.