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‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Katar [Qatar] affairs, 1873-1904.’ [‎22v] (44/92)

The record is made up of 1 volume (46 folios). It was created in 1904. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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limits o£ his jurisdiction, and within those o£ the Ahuthahi Chief. He also
observed — ^ it has been ruled by the Govern-
metrand mtbt subject tbem to penalties. Whilst abiding by thk necessary rule themselvj
the ^'Trucial' Chiefs naturally expect ns to impose a similar restnct.on on the Katar Chief
who indeed doM not repudiate the obligation, but boldly claims S.la as Kat.r terntory, and
farther denies having sent boats to that place with war stores. ^
" I think perhaps the Govemmeut of India would not think inexpedient in present c.r-
» t,, L a at a nenaltv from Sheikh Jasim, which woold mean employment of Naval
for" but 1 think it would be desirable to authorize me to intimate to Jasm the di^PproTal
and displeasure of Government at his action, and to inform him that a repetition of it
would lead "measures of a more serious nature. The delicacy of the position as regards Katar
requires me to seek the instruotion of Government m this case. ^
122 The Government of India thought that they would be justified in pun-
ishing Sheikh Jasim for despatching muni-
no. 303 of external a, auguit 1889, Nos. 233-306. ^ ons 0 f war "by S ea in furtherance of
hostile designs against the chief of Abu-Thahi. Having regard however to the
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. 's recommendation, they directed him to inform Sheikh Jasim
of their displeasure and warn him that a repetition of such acts as he had
lately been guilty of would entail serious consequences.
123 In reply to the warning conveyed to him by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. ,
Sheikh Jasim maintnined that Sila was
External a, September 1889, N ob . 163-166. -vvithin Katar and therefore within bis
territory. The Political Kesident decided to take no notice of the Sheikh's
animadversions.
Tarkish project of re-building Zobarah, 1888.
124 On the 12th March 1S88 Colonel Eoss forwarded a translation of a
letter dated 7th March from Sheikh Esau-
No. 89 of External a, June 1s88, Nos. 87-94. "bin-All, Chief of Bahrein, on the subject
of the alleged intention of the Turkish authorities to place inhabitants in Zoba-
rah, on the north-west coast of Katar, opposite the islands of Bahrein, and
reported:— , . .
"The Chief apprehends tliat Nasir-hin-Muharak the refugee from Bahrein, will be mstri-
gated to settle at Zobarah with his followers of the Beni Hajir tribe, and supported in doing
*0 by the Turks, either directly or indirectly.
There can be no doubt that if this measure were carried oat it would constitute a menace
and standing danger to Bahrein, and the objection raised by the Chief of Bahrein is, assuming
his information correct, reasonable.
It will be observed, too, that the chief of Bahrein asserts a distinct claim to hereditary
riehts over Zobarah. It is the case that the ancestors of the Bahrein Sheikhs originally colo
nized Zobarah and built its fort, and thence conquered the islands of Bahrein. Theiicefor-
ward until very recent times there continued to be a close political connection between Bah
rein and Zobarah, the Sheikhs of the latter place being regarded, and regarding themselves
as to some extent, dependents of the Bahrein Government. This connection was first severed
bv desire of the Government of India, which ruled in 1874 that the Chief of Bahrein should
desist from all interference on the mainland. Sheikh Esau, whilst maintaining a claim over
Zobarah, complied with the advice of Government, and when, in 187S, his allies the No aim
were attacked at Zobarah by Sheikh Jasim and Nasir-bin-Muharak, he consented to hold
aloof, and the No^aim were expelled from the place. Since then it has remained uninhabited.
<( Turks have not hitherto asserted or exercised any authority or jurisdiction over
Zobarah and the other villages on that part of the Katar promontory, and the policy_ of the
Government of India has been adverse to jallowing them to extend their ^authority m that
district. Further, if Nasir-bin-Mubarak and his Bedouins were permitted to settle there,
the place would, in all probability, become a nest of pirates, and the interests which the British
Government have at heart would undoubtedly suffer considerably. It Zobarah is to be rebuilt
and peopled, this should be, I think, in justice, done only in a manner acceptable to the Chief
of Bahrein. The settlers should be people friendly to him and not his enemies.
" In view firstly, to opposing the further extension of Turkish authority; secondly, of
the due safety'of the Islands of Bahrein; and thirdly, of the preservation of tranquillity and

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Content

The volume, stamped ‘Confidential’ on the front cover, is part 1 (historical and political materials) of a précis of Qatar (spelt Katar throughout) affairs for the years 1873 to 1904. It was prepared by Judge Jerome Antony Saldanha of the Bombay Provincial Civil Service, and published in 1904 by the Government of India Foreign Department, Simla, India.

The main subjects of the précis, which is comprised chiefly of extracts from Government correspondence, run as follows:

  • Turkish movements in Qatar, 1873; Chief of Bahrain (spelt Bahrein throughout) advised to keep aloof from complications in Qatar, 1873;
  • British intervention refused to Chief of Debai [Dubai] in case robberies committed against vessels of his subjects on Qatar coast, 1873;
  • Threatened attack on Bahrain and Qatar (Zobarah [Zubara]) by the Bedouin tribes of Beni Hajir, 1874;
  • Complaints of Turkey about Chief of Bahrain’s encroachments in Qatar, 1874;
  • The Beni Hajir attack Zubara and commit piracies, 1875;
  • Aggressive policy of the Turks and establishment of a new Turkish province on the Arabian littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ;
  • Plunder of a Bahrain boat by the Beni Hajir and an excessive contribution levied by the Chief of Bidaa [Al-Bidda] on British Indian traders residing there;
  • Claims preferred by the Government of Basrah [Basra] on behalf of the inhabitants of Qatar against certain residents of Bahrain, 1876;
  • Alleged ill-treatment of British Indian subjects, 1879;
  • Piracies at Zubara – destruction of Zubara by Shaikh Jasim [Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī], 1878;
  • Ill-treatment of Indian traders, 1879;
  • Question of suppression of piracies on the Arab coast. Claims of the Turks to Odeid [’Odaid] (1871-81); previous history of ’Odaid, 1837-76;
  • History of ’Odaid continued, question of Turkish jurisdiction on the Qatar coast, and suppression of piracies, 1878-81;
  • Removal of section of the Al-bu-Kowareh tribe from Al-Bidda to Foweyrat [Fujairat], 1879;
  • Threatened attack on Bahrain by Nasir-bin-Mobarik [Nasir bin Mubarak] and Shaikh Jāsim of Al-Bidda, 1881;
  • Shaikh Jāsim’s desire to occupy ’Odaid, 1881;
  • Policy as to the relations to be maintained with Shaikh Jāsim and the Turkish Government in Qatar, 1881;
  • Ill-treatment of British subjects by Shaikh Jāsim and exaction of a fine from him, 1880-82;
  • Protest of the Porte against British proceedings at Al-Bidda. British disclaimer of Turkish jurisdiction in Qatar, 1883;
  • Shaikh Jāsim’s projected expedition against a branch of the Beji Hajirs in 1884;
  • Fight between the Ejman [Ajman] and allied tribes on one side and Morah and Monasir tribes on the other, 1884;
  • Disputes between Shaikh Jāsim and the Chief of Abuthabi [Abu Dhabi], Jāsim’s intentions to occupy ’Odaid and the ill-treatment of Bedouins at Al-Bidda, 1885-86;
  • Outrages against Indian subjects under Jāsim’s instigation, and Shaikh Jāsim made to pay a fine, 1887;
  • Protests of the Porte against British Government proceedings, 1888;
  • Question of withdrawal of the Turkish garrison from Al-Bidda;
  • Turkish expansion along the Arab coast and the policy of the British Government, 1888;
  • Hostilities between Shaikh Jāsim and Shaikh Zaid [Zayed bin Khalifa] of Abu Dhabi, reported movements of the Chief of Jabal Shamer Ibn Rashid towards Oman in order to aid Shaikh Jāsim, 1888-89;
  • Jāsim carrying munitions of war by sea, 1889;
  • Turkish project of rebuilding Zubara, 1888;
  • Turkish measures for establishing their jurisdiction on a firmer basis on the Arab coast. Increase of Turkish forces in Qatar, 1888;
  • Intrigues of Jāsim against Abu Dhabi, 1889-90;
  • Turkish projects for rebuilding Zubara and ’Odaid, 1890-91;
  • Hostilities between Shaikh Jāsim and the Turks, 1891-93;
  • British policy towards Jāsim during the hostilities. Chief of Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, 1893;
  • Question of Turkish jurisdiction in Qatar, 1893;
  • Removal by Turkish authorities of the British flag from a boat at Al-Bidda, 1897;
  • Occupation of Zubara by the Al-bin-Ali tribe with the support of the Turks and Shaikh Jāsim. Threatened attack of Bahrain, and the energetic measures taken to expel the settlement, 1895;
  • Arab rising against the Turks in Qatar;
  • Disturbances off the Qatar coast between the Amamera and Al-bin-Ali tribes, 1900;
  • Piracies committed by the Beni Hajir off the Qatar coast, 1900;
  • Reconsideration of our general policy on the Arab side of the Gulf;
  • (1) Proposed British protectorate over the Chief of Qatar; (2) Aggressive action of the Porte in attempted to establish mudirates at ’Odaid, Wakra and Zubara, 1902-04.

The appendices are as follows:

Extent and format
1 volume (46 folios)
Arrangement

The contents of the précis are arranged in rough chronological order, and organised under a number of subheadings, with each paragraph numbered from 1 to 229. Three appendicies follow the main précis. There is a contents page at the front of the volume (f 5) which lists the subheadings with their corresponding paragraph numbers. The appendices are referenced using the volume’s pagination system.

Physical characteristics

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 The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence, with page numbers located top and centre of each page.

Written in
English in Latin script
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‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Katar [Qatar] affairs, 1873-1904.’ [‎22v] (44/92), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C243, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023526379.0x00002e> [accessed 9 November 2024]

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