Abstract: A confidential report on Persia, compiled by Major A D Geddes, Captain of the General Staff, War Office, 1905.Contained within the report are chapters on the history, ethnography, geography, ports and harbours, communications, trade and resources, military, and administration of Persia. Also included is a preface by Major-General J M Grierson, General Staff, War Office (folio 4), a glossary of geographical and topographical terms (folios 8-9), appendices (folios 58-60), and a colour map of Persia and Afghanistan (folio 64).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 63; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The volume is
Military Report on Persia. Compiled by the General Staff, Army Headquarters, India (Simla: 1912, originally published 1911).The volume contains a summary history of Persia, followed by sections on the country's geography and climate; ethnography; resources; army; naval forces; places of strategic importance and military notes; ports, harbours and islands; administration; and communications.The volume contains three appendices:A: a list of Persian notables, 1911;B: bibliography;C: glossaries.There is a Map of Persia on folio 230.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 231; 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 file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: Confidential military report compiled in the Intelligence Branch, Department of the Quarter Master General of India, by Captain George Samuel Frederick Napier, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, Staff Captain. The report was printed in Simla at the Government Central Printing Office, 1900.The volume begins with a preface, written by Lieutenant-Colonel A Barrow, Assistant Quartermaster General, Intelligence Branch, Simla, on 12 April 1900 (folio 8).Part one of the volume comprises ten chapters (I-X) covering:geography (general description, coastline, land frontiers, mountain systems, rivers and lakes)harbourscommunications (roads, maritime, inland water, and telegraphs)climate (general description, rainfall, winds in the Persian Gulf, pathology of Southern Persia)resources (agricultural, commercial, industrial, labour, production, animals, and transport)ethnography (races and religions, and languages)history (early history, Russo-Persian wars, Anglo-Persian wars up to 1856, the Anglo-Persian War of 1856-57, the subsequent history of Southern Persia, and commercial history)administration (systems, administrative divisions, financial system, money, weights and measures)naval and military (navy, army, fighting material, and arms)political (internal and external relations, British representatives in Southern Persia, and representatives of other powers in Southern Persia)Part two of the volume comprises four appendices (A-D) covering:climate (an abstract of Fahrenheit thermometer readings)resources (bazaar prices, average rates of transport, rates of freight, pack transport rates, labour, animal and crop resources in some of Southern Persia’s principal towns and villages);ethnography (list of the principal tribes of Arabistan, and lists of tribes of other regions)a ‘gazetteer of some of the more important towns and villages of Southern Persia, on or near lines of communication’Four maps are also included in the volume’s front pocket (folios 2-5).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 75; 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 file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: Report marked strictly confidential, prepared in the Intelligence Branch of the Quarter Master General’s Department in India, by the Assistant Quarter Master General, Major and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Sever Bell, Royal Engineers. The volume was published by the Government Central Branch Press, Simla, 1885.The contents of the volume are as follows:part I, a narrative description of a journey from India to Muhammerah [Khorramshahr], through to the Luristán [Lorestān] hills, to Kúm [Qom]; from Kúm to Gulpaigán [Golpāyegān ], Chaman-i-Sultán [Chaman Solţān], Ali-Gúdar [Alīgūdarz], Imámzádá-Ishmail [Emāmzādeh Esmā‘īl], and the Zaindarúd River [Zāyandeh Rūd] to Isfahán; from Isfahán through the Kúhgehlú [Kohgīlūyeh] hills to Behbahán and Bandar-Dilám [Bandar-e Deylam]; from Bandar-Dilám to Bushirepart II, a detailed account of southwest Persia, compiled from Sever’s own observations and other available sourcespart III, commercial considerations. A further section in this chapter on strategic observations, which is mentioned on the contents page and marked as secret, is not present in the volumepart IV, detailed road reportsappendix A, road reports, Isfahan to Shústar [Shūshtar], Shústar to Shíráz [Shīrāz], compiled in 1881 by Captain Henry Lake Wells, Assistant Director of Persian Telegraphs, with additional annotations by Bellappendix B, a list of plant specimens collected in Luristán during April and May 1884appendix C, extracts of a paper on the geology of the Turko-Persian frontier, written by William Kennett Loftus, June 1854appendix D, meteorological observations at Bushire, from 20 March to 20 June 1885The volume includes eight maps, two photographic plates, and illustrations throughout (topographical, architectural, anthropological). The two photographic plates and some of the maps are of an earlier date than the volume’s publication date of 1885.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 233; 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 file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: Military report compiled by Captain LS Fortescue of the General Staff of the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force and printed in Calcutta at the Superintendent Government Printing, India, 1922.The volume begins with a statement defining the geographical area covered by the report. The report is divided into ten chapters, plus appendices, each concerning a different subject, as follows:Chapter 1: HistoryChapter 2: GeographyChapter 3: Climate, Water, Medical and AviationChapter 4: EthnographyChapter 5: Administration (including a table of provinces with administrative details (folios 123-30)Chapter 6: Armed Forces of the Persian GovernmentChapter 7: Economic ResourcesChapter 8: TribesChapter 9: PersonalitiesChapter 10: CommunicationsAppendices: Glossary of terms; Weights, measures and coinage; Bibliography; Historical sketch (Chapter 1) continued from June 1920 to the end of 1921At the back of the volume (folio 302) is a map to illustrate the report.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 303; 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 file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: The volume, marked confidential, is
Report on the Arms Traffic, 1st July 1911 to 30th June 1913 (including a note on the operations of the Makran Field Force in April and May 1911), prepared by the General Staff, India, and printed at the Government Monotype Press, 1913. The report begins with a preface (folio 5) and is then divided into seventeen sections, plus appendices. The geographical scope of the report includes Persia, Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, and Turkey. The report covers blockade measures, systems of intelligence, exporters from Europe, and prices.The note on operations of the Makran Field Force comes as an appendix and is written by Captain SG Craufurd, Gordon Highlanders Intelligence Officer, at Jask on 10 May 1911.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 22; 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.
Abstract: The volume consists of a report by Surgeon-Major George Washington Brazier-Creagh on his mission to Seistan [Sīstān] on ‘plague duty’ to investigate the closure of the Perso-Afghan-Baluch trade routes under the ‘mantle of plague’ from April to October 1897. The report is divided into five sections:The Outward Journey: A general account of the journey across the Baluchistan Desert – folios 5-7.A general history of the Mission and condition of affairs in Seistan – folios 8-13r.An account of influential chiefs and material connected with the administration of Seistan – folios 13v-15r.The Return Journey: A review of road infrastructure and trade prospects – folios 16-17.A review of the strategic and political outlook – folios 17-18.The remainder of the volume (folios 20-58) consists of appendices. A pocket on the inside back cover contains five folded maps (folios 60-64).On the front cover, it bears two stamps reading ‘War Office. Library. 14 Dec 1889’ and ‘Intelligence Division. 14 Dec 1889’ respectively.Published in Calcutta by the Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India (1898).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover 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.Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: Report by Arthur Hills Gleadowe-Newcomen, FRGS, FSA, President of the Commercial Mission to Persia. Submitted to the Government of India, and the Committees of the Upper India Chamber of Commerce, Cawnpore [Kānpur], and the Indian Tea Cess, Calcutta [Kolkata].Publication statement: Calcutta: Government of India, Foreign Department, 1906.The report is divided into the following sections:I. Introduction.II. A General Report.III. Notes on Trading Centres, trade usages and other matters of interest.IV. Imports and Exports, comprising: a) Articles of Commerce. b) Resumé.V. Appendices: A. Tables of Weights, Measures and Currency; B. Statistical Tables; C. Trade routes, description and map [missing]; D. Tables showing cost and time of transport and keep of animals; E. Blank business contact form; F. Itinerary of journey of Mission.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 86; 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 file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: Report on the British Indian Commercial Mission to South-Eastern Persia written by Arthur Hills Gleadowe-Newcomen, President of the Commercial Mission to Persia. The purpose of the commercial mission was to report on the present position and future prospects of the trade of South-Eastern Persia with a view to increasing Indo-Persian Trade.The report comprises five parts:Part I – Introduction: inception of mission; route, including journey from Bombay [Mumbai] to Bander Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās].Part II – General: physical features of country; people; trade statistics and methods; banking industry; agricultural banks; Russian competition; consular matters; engineering (irrigation, railway and harbour construction, mining); customs and imports.Part III – Trading centres: Bander Abbas; Saiadabad [Sa‘īdābād, or Sirjan]; Bahramabad [Bahrāmābād, or Rafsanjān]; Kerman; Khabis [Shahdād]; Gok [Bāgh Gūk]; Bam; Jiruft [Jīroft] and Rudbar; Yezd; Shiraz; Bushire.Part IV – Imports and Exports, including chief articles of commerce (statistics, Russian trade, customs tariff) and development of trade.Part V includes a number of appendices comprising statistical tables of imports and exports, telegraph rates, descriptions of trade routes, costs and times of transport routes, the itinerary of the mission and a map of the caravan routes of South East Persia.The report was published in Calcutta by the Government of India Foreign Dept, 1906.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at a map in the inside back cover with 87; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This file is a report on the structure of the Persian Army. Compiled in the Intelligence Branch of the Quarter Master General's Department in India by Lieutenant James Archibald Douglas, the report gives the British perspective of the strength and weaknesses of the Persian Army.The report is broken down into: infantry (organization, strength, method of recruiting, armament); semi-regular cavalry (Cossack brigade, Russian officers); irregular cavalry (General Gordon's opinion); artillery (mule batteries, artillery horses); micellaneous bodies (militia, camel artillery, the Austrian corps); recapitulation of strength distribution (breech-loading rifles, Werndl rifles; Berdan rifles, Chassepot rifles, Gobelin rifles, magazine rifles, and breech-loading ammunition); the army's pay; the army's uniforms; the state of the army; fighting campaigns against the Bakhtiaris, Lurs, and Arab tribes.Included is a slip regarding the custody and disposal of secret documents (f 108).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 106, and terminates at f 116, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Report on the Persian Army by Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Philip Picot, Military Attaché and Oriental Secretary, British Legation, Tehran, Persia.The report is divided into two parts. Part 1 consists of an introductory note, list of works consulted, chapters on general information about Persia and the history of the Persian Army (written by General Albert Houtum-Schindler), and an appendix on military pay, ranks, titles, and decorations. Part 2 consists of eleven chapters on recruitment, infantry, irregular cavalry, regular cavalry (the Cossack Brigade), artillery, miscellaneous irregular bodies, departments of the army, military schools, uniforms and equipment of men, uniform of officers, and decorations, medals, and orders.The report has a preface written by the author in January 1900 (folio 3).At the back of the volume is a map of Persia, Afghanistan, and Beluchistan [Baluchistan] (folio 84).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 85; 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 file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: The memorandum is a report authored by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Edward Stewart, Bengal Staff Corps, dated 4 July 1881. Its purpose being to convey the results of his intelligence gathering mission to the North-Eastern Frontier of Persia.The report largely consists of a narrative detailing Stewart's journey from Tehran to the frontier, which he undertook under the guise of an Armenian horse dealer from Calcutta. The narrative details events that unfolded during the course of his journey, but also includes detailed observations on the landscape and settlements he passes through. This includes general observations on the local economy, fauna, geology, history, and politics. Military matters are also a consideration, and it therefore includes details on Persian armaments, fortifications, garrisons, and how easy an army could be transported through the region.Much discussion is given to raids undertaken against Persia — primarily by the Biluchis and the Turkoman — and efforts by Persian authorities to defend against them. Some attention is therefore given to slave trading in the region, and how recent Russian activities have curbed the opportunities to profit from the practice. It also concerns itself with Russian expansion in the region and the extent that the Persians are willing to assist them.On folio 106 is an extract from the Times (August 1880) concerning the Indian Prince Ram Chunder; Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart claims to have met him during the course of his mission.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at f 105, and terminates at f 129, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Pagination: the memorandum also contains an original pagination sequence.