Page 117 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

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British interests and influence, 1898-1904

Frococdiuga, lIlk August 1898.
Petitioner’s Agent present.
Mr. Archibald Mackirdy of To well & Co. states :—
I produce bill-of-lading of the S.S. “ Turkistan,” dated Manchester,
11th February 3897, and manifest, dated 22nd February 1897, from which it
will bo seen that GO cases of arms and ammunition were shipped by Hollis and
Laubcnburg, consigned to Malcolm, Bushire, optional Maskat, and that
Malcolm availed himself of tho option to land 6 cases hero through my agency.
Battansco obtained delivery of 22 others from tho Captain, the remainder being
sent on to Bushiro.
I also produce manifest of S.S. “ Arabistan,” dated 30th Soptombcr 1897,
showing that of 21 cases shipped by Hollis and Laubenburg & Co., consigned
to Malcolm, Bushire, optional Maskat, Malcolm availed himsolf of the option to
land 6 cases |LC| out of 9 at Maskat, tho remainder being sont on to Bushire.
I can produce many more instances, if necessary, not only of Malcolm’s
but other shippers, showing that it has been a common practice to ship arms
and ammunition to Maskat,' optional Bushiro or Bahrein. If there was
a good market at-Maskat, tho option, was taken advantage of, otherwise
not. Tho freight of arms and ammunition to Maskat was 70 a ton
more than to Bushire. The reason of this was to offer an inducemont to
steamers to call at Maskat with small consignments of arms. Largo consign­
ments were neyor sent to Maskut, as tho market is small. Tho only time X
can remember whole consignments of arms for other ports being landed hero
was out of the “ Tresco,” and this was duo to the seizures at Bushire.
The arms on the ** Baluchistan ” for Bushiro were all taken out at Port
Said and re-marked Maskat. This has never bood done in an^previous case.
Tho Managers in London asked us'WCoITect" aiTbxtra charge ot lE^aTcase to
defray tho expense of re-marking and tho delay at Port Said. My firm has
novor dealt in breech-loading arms, and I am unable to say' anything about
tho market here. In my experience as a business-man it is open and perfectly
legal for a shipper to alter the destination of cargo while en route. It
would only ho necessary for tho owner to communicate with tho Manager,
London, who would issuo necessary telegraphic instructions to Commander.
Arms and ammunition are usually called merchandize on bills-of-lading,
and this was how they were described ou bills-of-lading delivered to our
firm long boforo there was any talk of soizures cither at Bushiro or here.
The requirements of bill-of-lading do not necessitate any declaration as to
contents of packages of cargo. I kavo no recollection of arms being described
ns hardware on bill-of-lading.
i t is also a regular practice for all goods, not only arms, to be consigned
to “ Order.” All that is required is tho endorsement of tho shipper on the
bnok of tho bill-of-lading. This is convenient, as goods are very often
shipped by agents who really do not know who is to take delivery of tho
consignment. The agents in this case endorse the bill-of-lading and send
it to the firm or.individual whose agent he is, and the firm then make over the
bill-of-lading to the porson who is to take delivery.

(Sd.) A. Mackirdy of W. J. Towell & Co.,
Agents, Anglo-Arabian and Persian Steam Ship Co. {Ld.),

Bead and adraittod correot.
maskat ; . A (OU.) 0. Of, JJ’. JU'AGAN,
T\e llth August 1898. j Her Britannic Majesty's Consul.
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