Abstract: The first volume of reports produced by the Perso-Afghan Boundary Commission, Seistan [Sīstān], and submitted to the Government of India, Foreign Department. Publication statement: Simla: Government of India Foreign Department, 1906.The commission, under the direction of Colonel Arthur Henry McMahon, was to redefine the frontier between Persia and Afghanistan in the south, and develop a formula for the division of the Helmand waters. The report consists of a general description of the region, and specific notes on ethnography, meteorology, agriculture, industry, and hydrology.Contents:Part I - Persian Seistan.Part II - Afghan Seistan.Part III - Herd and Flock-owners, Saiyads, Weavers and Potters.Part IV - General information concerning the River and Inundated area; the Fords, Roads across the Naizar; the Floods; the Rand, Etc.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 179; 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 (xvi, 328pp).Condition: the binding structure has partially broken down, and many folios are loose. Please handle carefully.
Abstract: The second volume of reports produced by the Perso-Afghan Boundary Commission, Seistan [Sīstān], and submitted to the Government of India, Foreign Department. Publication statement: Simla: Government of India Foreign Department, 1906.The commission, under the direction of Colonel Arthur Henry McMahon, was to redefine the frontier between Persia and Afghanistan in the south, and develop a formula for the division of the Helmand waters. The report consists of a general description of the region, and specific notes on ethnography, meteorology, agriculture, industry, and hydrology.Comprising appendices on the following:statistical tablescopy correspondence between the British, Persian and Afghan Commissionersgenealogical trees and tablesmeteorological datanotes and memoranda on aspects of Seistan geography, ethnology, hydrology, industry, economy, agriculture, botany, entomology, and transport infrastructureglossary.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 188; 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.Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence (pp i-iv, 329-689)Condition: the binding structure has partially broken down, and many folios are loose. Please handle carefully.
Abstract: Copy of 'A handbook of Turkey in Europe,
prepared on behalf of the Admiralty, Admiralty War Staff, Intelligence Division, January 1917.'The volume contains thirteen photographic plates (folios 99-106) and a map (folio 171).Contents (folio 6):Section II. Boundaries and Physical Features, p 9 (f 7);II. Climate, p 27 (f 16);III. Modern History, p 34 (f 19v);IV. Ethnology and Languages, p 49 (f 27);V. Religions, p 66 (f 35v);VI. Government and Administration, p 96 (f 50v);VII. Turkish Social Life, p 114 (f 59v);VIII. Economic Geography and Finance, p 142 (f 73v);IX. Chief Towns, p 166 (f 85v);X. Money, Weights and Measures, the Calendar, p 185 (f 95).Section II. Itineraries.Roads, p 193(f 107);Railways, p 276 (f 148v).Index, p 307 (f 164).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside 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. An original pagination sequence is present in parallel between ff 7-170.
Abstract: Admiralty handbook regarding Syria (including Palestine) 'to as far north as the River Orontes and a line Antioch-Aleppo-Meskeneh. For details of the part of Syria beyond this line reference must be made to the
Handbook of Asia Minor, Vol. iv, Part 2 (C.B. 847 C).''Contents. Chapters:I. Boundaries and Physical Survey, p 9 (folio 7)II. Climate, p 24 (folio 14v)III. Minerals, Flora and Fauna, p 93 (folio 50)IV. Military History, p 109 (folio 58)V. Inhabitants, p 175 (folio 91)VI. Turkish Administration, p 236 (folio 121v)VII. Agriculture, p 252 (folio 129v)VIII. Industry and Trade, p 276 (folio 141v)IX. Currency, Weights and Measures, p 318 (folio 162v)X. Jebel Ansarīyeh, p 325 (folio 166)XI. Country East of Jebel Ansarīyeh, p 344 (folio 175v)XII. Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon, and Damascus Plain, p 357 (folio 182)XIII. River Systems of Northern Syria, p 395 (folio 201)XIV. Judea and the Southern Desert, p 427 (folio 217)XV. Samaria (including Carmel), p 472 (folio 239v)XVI. Galilee, p 515 (folio 261)XVII. Haurān and Jaulān, p 556 (folio 281v)XVIII. 'Ajlūn and Northern Belqa, p 580 (folio 293v)XIX. Southern Belqa and Ardh el-Kerak, p 612 (folio 309v)XX. El-Jibāl and Esh-Shera, p 636 (folio 321v)XXI. The Ghōr (Jordan and the Dead Sea); and Wādi 'Arabah, p 645 (folio 326)Appendix: Conventional Spellings, p 668 (folio 337v)Index, p 669 (folio 338)Plates, p 725' [missing]Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 367; 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. The volume originally contained fourteen plates showing maps, bound into the back of the volume. These are now missing; details of the plates can be found at folio 5v.
Abstract: The volume, marked confidential, is
Field Notes on Sa'udi Arabia, 1935, prepared by Donald Banks of the Air Ministry, by command of the Air Council.The volume begins with a brief forward (folio 2) in which the geographical scope is outlined. The volume is then divided into nine chapters (I-IX) with appendices, as follows:I - HistoryII - System of GovernmentIII - PopulationIV - Political GeographyV - Physical GeographyVI - Climate and MeteorologyVII - CommunicationsVIII - ResourcesIX - Armed ForcesAppendices - Weights and Measures, Coinage, Calendar and Time, Note on the state of Wahhabism viewed from a military standpoint, Note on ZakatThe volume contains the following route reports:1. 'Uqair to Riyadh, via al Hasa2. Riyadh to Wadi Fatima (near Jedda)3. Jumaima to Medina4. Riyadh to Kuwait5. Kuwait to Transjordan FrontierThe volume contains nineteen maps and plans, as follows:Imperial Air and Sea Routes (folio 29)Tribal Areas (folio 23)Administrative Divisions (folio 33)Town Plans of Jedda, Mecca, Medina, Riyadh, and Taif (folios 40, 42, 43, 45, and 46, respectively)Diagrammatic Section of Middle Sa'udi Arabia (folio 50)Physical Geography (folio 54)Chart showing Magnetic Variation in Arabia (folio 59)Communications in Sa'udi Arabia (folio 64)Diagram of Principal Watering Points, Frontier Posts and Garrisons (folio 70)Tribes of Asir (folio 76)Panorama of the town of Marat (folio 98)Panorama of Muwaih (folio 101)Sketch Plan of Muwaih (folio 100)Sketch of route Rumaihiya-Jarya (Route Report No. 4) (folio 109)General Map (folio 121)Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 122; 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 file comprises correspondence and other papers sent to and from the Bahrain Political Agency, relating to the set-up and subsequent day-to-day running of a weather observatory in Bahrain. The file begins with a letter from the head meteorologist of the India Meteorological Department in Karachi, addressed to the Political Agent (20 June 1927), stating that the Government of India, in conjunction with the London-Karachi Aviation Weather Service, wish to start an Upper Air Observatory at Bahrain (f 1). The Agent, liaising with the British Adviser to the Bahrain Government (Charles Belgrave) confirms that land adjacent to the existing telegraph office is available. He confirms that accommodation for the two weather observers is available in town (f 3).Correspondence throughout the remainder of the file relates to the ongoing maintenance and running of the observatory. A number of themes are repeated through the file, which can be summarised as follows: the rent of land and buildings for the observatory, and accommodation for the observers; arrangements for the delivery of equipment and correspondence from India, and duty to be paid at the Bahrain customs house; medical requirements of and health checks for the observatory staff; periodic repairs to the observatory premises; damage to and theft of observatory equipment; misuse and appropriation of observatory land; proposals to erect fencing around observatory land; recruitment of local labour to manufacture weather balloons.Physical description: Foliation: There are two incomplete foliation sequences and one complete sequence. One incomplete sequence is circled in red crayon; the other is written in pencil, in the top right corner. The complete sequence is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of each folio. It begins with the first item of correspondence, on number 1, and ends on 300, which is the last folio of writing. Foliation anomalies: no f 78; no f 104; no f 121; no ff 133-141. Letters have been used to number the following folios: f 53A; f 113A; f 113B; f 144A; f 145A; f 146A; f 153A; f 182A; f 189A; f 192A; ff 240A-D; f 269A.
Abstract: The correspondence and other papers contained in the file relate to the day-to-day operations of the weather observatory in Bahrain. These include the rising costs of living in Bahrain, in part a result of the growth of the oil industry, population growth and housing shortages which have caused rent rises; staff changes at the observatory; and ongoing arrangements for the hire and transportation of equipment for the observatory.The correspondence towards the end of the file deals primarily with questions concerning the future of the Bahrain observatory in the wake of Indian independence, and the transfer of the Political Residency to Bahrain. Letters sent by Agency staff to the Residency raise questions over who has responsibility for the observatories at Bahrain and Sharjah, and the duplication of work between the Bahrain observatory and the Royal Air Force observatory at nearby Muharraq (ff 75, 76-82). A letter from the Political Agent, dated 3 November 1948, announces the closure of the Bahrain observatory, with the RAF observatory at Muharraq superseding its operations (ff 86-87). After the closure of the Bahrain observatory, correspondence in the file continues between the Agency and the Meteorological Officer based at the RAF's observatory at Muharraq (ff 90-96).Physical description: Foliation: The foliation starts on the first page, and uses pencil numbers in top-right corner of each recto page. There is an occasional additional numbering in blue crayon. An additional foliation sequence, since crossed out, starts on f 97. The following folios are missing: ff 3-4, f 7. The following foliation anomalies occur: ff 19, 19A-B; ff 52, 52A.
Abstract: Most of the papers in the file are statistical report sheets containing data about weather conditions in Bahrain. In addition to the weather data reports, other items in the file include a letter from Petroleum Concessions Ltd (PCL) to the Political Agency in Bahrain, dated June 1945, requesting annual rainfall data for Sharjah, Muscat and Ras-al-Hadd; a letter from the Advisor to the Government of Bahrain (Charles Belgrave) to the Political Agent in March 1946, informing the Agency that Sheikh Sulman requests daily weather forecasts for Bahrain; a letter from the Political Agent (Charles Pelly) to the Officer-in-Charge of the meteorological office at the RAF base in Bahrain, dated 21 November 1948, requesting that, in light of the meteorological (pilot balloon) observatory now being closed, RAF meteorological data be sent to the Agency on a fortnightly basis.Correspondence from September 1950 between the Agency, Bahrein Petroleum Company and the Senior Meteorological Officer at RAF Bahrain, relates to two fatal incidents in June 1950 involving Air France aircraft crashing at Bahrain. The correspondence relates to how wind speeds, as published in the "Bahrein Islander" newspaper, were recorded (ff 244-45).Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence starts at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil and may be found in the top right of the recto side of each folio.Foliation anomalies: 1A and 1B; 48A and 48B; 52A and 52B; 57A and 57B; 60A and 60B; 65A and 65B; 76A, 76B, 76C and 76D; 85A and 85B; 113A and 113B; 119A and 119B; 126A and 126B; 135A and 135B; 140A and 140B; 168A and 168B.
Abstract: The file is almost entirely comprised of statistical report sheets containing data about daily weather conditions in Bahrain, sent to the Political Agency by the Pilot Balloon Observatory on a fortnightly basis. The measurements are recorded two times a day (morning and afternoon). At first, only minimum and maximum temperatures are sent. From September 1934 (f 52) humidity measurements are also recorded. From October 1934 (f 55) rainfall is also recorded. The statistics sheets contain a remarks column which notes additional characteristics of the weather (for example, wind, storms, dust haze, fog). From August 1943 the Bahrein Petroleum Company also sent its statistical data to the Agency, including wind velocity and direction (from f 203).The file also contains correspondence from the Indian Meteorological Department to the Political Agency in Bahrain, enquiring in October 1929 whether any groups in Bahrain take records of the state of the sea. The Agency's response states that no sea records are taken (ff 1-4). A letter from a Mr deGrenier, dated 21 April 1933, enquires after statistical data relating to a storm the previous evening. The Agency's reply states that .51 inches of rain fell, with record winds of 80 miles per hour (ff 31-32). Annual rainfall figures between 1929 and 1940 can be found on ff 140-43.Physical description: Foliation: The file's foliation begins on the file cover and runs to the last paper in the file, using pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto page. The following foliation anomalies occur: ff.1,1A-B; ff.102,102A; ff.155,155A; ff.156,156A-C; ff.162,162A; ff.198,198A.
Abstract: This file contains correspondence between the Political Agency in Muscat and the Regional Meteorological Centre in Karachi regarding the establishment of a pilot balloon observatory in Muscat.Some of the correspondence concerns a visit to Muscat made by Mr S M Chishty of the Indian Meteorological Observatory (the Pakistan Meteorological Department after August 1947) and the subsequent rental of a property in Muttrah in which to establish the observatory.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 26; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.