Letter no.184 of 1853 from Captain Arnold Kemball, Resident in the Persian Gulf, to Arthur Malet, Chief Secretary of the Government, Bombay

IOR/R/15/1/138, ff 26-34

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The record is made up of 9 folios. It was created in 16 Jun 1853. 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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The letter relates to an act of piracy committed by Sheikh Humud ben Mujudel [Humeed bin Majdull] of Junnah [referred to as Gunnah or Jinnah in Charles Rathbone Low, The History of the Indian Navy (1877) vol.2, p.323] in September 1851. Kemball reports that enquires made at the request of the Honourable Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. have discovered the various fates of those people from Kuteef [al-Qatif] kidnapped by Sheikh Humud ben Mujudel (including death and sale into slavery). Kemball discusses the possible complicity of Sheikh Mohamed ben Khuleefa [Muhammad bin Khalifa] in the sale of the kidnapped persons, and the liability of Humeed bin Majdull, including the amount of blood money that should be payable.

There are three enclosures with Kemball's letter:

1. The translated substance of a letter (folios 31-32) from the British Agent at Bahrain, Hajee Jassem, to Kemball, dated 9 May 1853, describing the fate of the inhabitants of al-Qatif, captured from two boats by Humeed bin Majdull, including how much some were sold for;

2. A statement (folio 33) of the sale of captives taken at sea by Humud ben Mujudel, chief of Junnah, undated;

3. A translated extract from a letter (folio 34) from the British Agent at Bahrain, Hajee Jassem, to Kemball, dated 31 May 1853, which gives the names of those four men who were killed by Humeed bin Majdull, or died in his custody.

Extent and format
9 folios
Written in
English in Latin script
Type
Letter

Archive information for this record

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Original held at
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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Unrestricted

Archive reference
IOR/R/15/1/138, ff 26-34

History of this record

Date(s)
16 Jun 1853 (CE, Gregorian)

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Letter no.184 of 1853 from Captain Arnold Kemball, Resident in the Persian Gulf, to Arthur Malet, Chief Secretary of the Government, Bombay, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/138, ff 26-34, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024051555.0x00000a> [accessed 30 January 2025]

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