Abstract: This volume is a confidential report, printed at the War Office, by Harrison and Sons, printers in ordinary to Her Majesty, in 1899, and authored by Major George Washington Brazier-Creagh, Intelligence Division, War Office, concerning the resources, administration and general affairs in Baluchistan and Seistan [Sīstān] following his political mission in 1897. The report contains an introduction by the author, (folio 4), dated 5 December 1898, in which he mentions that details from the report are being incorporated into the Baluchistan Gazetteer and Route books. He also pays tribute to Colonel Bell and Captain Henry Dundas Napier who preceded him, as well as Captain Arthur Henry McMahon and George Passman Tate. The text of the report is accompanied by footnotes and section headings appear in the left and right hand margins.The report includes a table of contents on folio 5 with the following five chapters:'Chapter I. General Account of Journey across the Baluchistan Desert' (folios6-8), including details of incidents en route, future trade prospects, danger threatening commerical prospects, and a list of leading merchants in Seistan;Chapter II. Russian Designs and Political Consideration' (folios 8v-10), includsing details of future policy, approaches to Seistan, alternative routes, influential Sardars of Seistan, treatment of refugees by the British Government, and the feeling of the people;'Chapter III. Resources and Population of Seistan' (folios 11-24), including details of administration, fertile places, a list of villages, climate, seasons and winds, sanitation, population, transport (camels, donkeys and horses), windmills, agriculture, industries and trade, Camel Corps, sport and shooting, locusts, and fish;'Chapter IV. Exploration of the District in the West and South' (folio 25), including details of crossing the Dasht-i-Shelag, pollution of wells, character of country, routes, and pilgrimage;'Chapter V. Land System - Revenue and Productions &c' (folios 26-29), including details of ijaras [
ijārah], tenant rights and responsibilities, hardship of tenants, collection of revenue, culturable area, annual yield, surplus grain, irregularity and delayed water supply, and ancient ruins.There is a list of nine appendices (folio 5v) as follows:'A.- Geneaological tables of Sarbandi, Kayani, and Naroi tribes' (folios 30-31);'B.- List of Taoki tribes in Seistan' (folio 31v);'C.- Average temperature of each camp', April to November 1897 (folios 32-35);'D.- Aneroid readings', April to November 1897 (folios 36-39);'E.- List of wells and springs', with serial numbers corresponding to 'Map No. II' (folio 39v);'F.- List of villages', with serial numbers corresponding to 'Map No. II' (folios 40-41);'G.- Table of meteorological observations, Baluchistan' (folios 41v-43);'H.- Table of meteorological observations, Seistan' (folios 44-50);'I.- Table of meteorological observations, Neh and Birjand Districts' (folios 50v-51).The file also includes five maps and sketches, store in a pocket (folio 58). They are listed on folio 5v as follows:'No. 1. Baluchistan and Seistan' (folio 53);'No. 2. Seistan' (folio 54);'No. 3. Route plan of Robat Nala' (folio 55);'No. 4. Waterways of the Helmund [Helmand] Delta' (folio 56);’No. 5. Nasratabad [Naṣratābād] Fort' (folio 57).Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; 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: This file contains correspondence between British officials following a request made by Shaikh Mubarak Al Sabah, the ruler of Kuwait, for the British authorities to ensure an adequate water supply to Kuwait (a copy of the letter is contained on folio 3).The correspondence includes discussions between British officials and Shaikh Mubārak Āl Ṣabāḥ and later in the volume, with Shaikh Sālim al-Mubārak Āl Ṣabāḥ.The file contains correspondence with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company and a firm based in Mohammerah named Messrs Strick, Scott and Company concerning different options for increasing Kuwait's water supply and the logistics and costs of these options.Much of the correspondence concerns the construction of a water plant by Messrs Strick, Scott and Company and the numerous difficulties that the project faces.Physical description: Condition: A bound correspondence volume.Foliation: The file's foliation sequence commences at the title page and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The file contains the following foliation errors: 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D; 32 and 32A; 56, 56A and 56B; 90 and 90A; 128 and 128A, the file also contains the following foliation omissions: 5, 7 and 37.
Abstract: This file contains correspondence between British officials that discusses the following topics:Oil deposits in Syria and the Farsan [Farasan] islands (ff. 9-11, 14-15, 16-20, 22, 24, 28).Negotiations for the construction of oil wells in Kuwait (ff. 4-8, 12, 16, 20-22, 23-32, 36).The prospects of obtaining potable water from artesian wells in Kuwait (ff. 1-3).Oil concessions in Bahrain and Kuwait (ff. 59-63).A concession for oxide and sulphur mining in Kuwait (ff. 39-44).Physical description: Condition: A bound correspondence volume.Foliation: The file has an incomplete foliation sequence and a complete foliaiton sequence. The complete sequence is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the first folio after the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the last folio of writing, on number 68.
Abstract: Tables displaying the manufactures of Bagdad [Baghdad], Merdin [Mardin], Courdistan [Kurdistan], and Bussora [Basra], and the natural resources of these places plus Kerkook [Kirkuk]. Includes details of export destinations and approximate annual value.This report was collated by Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)