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‘Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Precis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs.’ [‎18] (30/160)

The record is made up of 1 volume (80 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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18
poinfcmeut of Kaimakan in virtue o£ an imperial firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). , and therefore entitled to be supported
by the Government against those who attack him. Your Excellency^ said Jli Patkt,, may give
the most positive assurances to Her Majesty's Government that the Porte entertains no intention
whatever of obtaining the supremacy over Bahrein, Muscat, or the independent tribes of South-
Arabia, and does not contemplate any attack upon them or harbour any design to subdue them.
Be asserts that the true and sole object of the present enterprise is^to pacify the two brothers,
to prevent the protraction of disorder, and to restore tranquillity "
11, Midhut Paska confirms assurances of Porte-
68. On receipt of the above assurances from the Porte, Colonel Herbert
was directed on the 17th May to take an
secret i., 1871, Nos. 581-685 (No. 644). early opportunity, without seeking a formal
interview with Midhut Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , of expressing casually to him the satisfaction of
the British Government at the communication from the Porte. This he did
and informed Government that the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. explicitly confirmed the assurances
of the Porte.
12. Instructions to Colonel Pelly.
69. The receipt of the above assurances from the Porte enabled Govern
ment to give the much required instruc
tions to Colonel Pelly. He was directed,
in a letter dated 17th May to the Bombay Government, to communicate the
substance of Sir H. Elliot's message to the Chief of Bahrein and those of the
trucial Chiefs who had made enquiries regarding the object of the Turkish
expedition. With regard to the general questions put by Colonel Pelly it was
said: .
u he should be informed that it is impossible for His Excellency in Council to give instructions
regarding contingencies of the occurrence of which there is no immediate prospect. The Turkish
expedition, however, in no way affects *the Treaty rights and obligations either of the British
Government or of the Chiefs who have subscribed the maritime peace. Colonel Pelly may'
so inform the Chiefs who have consulted him, and should use all legitimate means to maintain
the stipulations of the Treaties."
im No. 645.
Eeport to Secretary of State with views of Government.
70. On the 23rd May Government forwarded to the Secretary of State all
the papers received up to date regarding events in Nejd and the expedition,
and after a resume of the correspondence that had taken place, observed :
" Although the assurances so explicitly given by the Turkish Government may for the
present allay any immediate apprehensions, we think it not improbable that the expedition to
Nejd may, from the force of circumstances, assume more serious proportions than the Porte at
present contemplate.
" We beg to draw the attention of Your Grace to the latest letters on the subject received
from the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bagdad. These papers show tfae difficulties which the Turks are
likely to encounter, and (the complications that may arise from ;the prosecution of their
enterprise. It is, therefore,.highly desirable, both in the interest ;of the Porte and the peace
of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , that the expedition should be stopped, and if that is, as we fear, no longer
feasible, that the Government of the Porte, should be advised to limit its proportions as much
as possible." ( . ,
71. A. brief exposition of the British policy, as described in parsgraph 59
of this Trecis, was placed before the Secretary of State, with a request that the
Government of India might be favored withithe views of Her Majesty's Gov
ernment on the subject. * i i t
Colonel Pelly directed to proceed to Bahrien.
72. Colonel Pelly on the 25th May reported that the commercial classes
Secret I, Nos. 806-849 (No. 819). an d anxious, and that
the pearl season would be lost. He en
quired whether tribes who are parties to the maritime truce were to be allowed

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Content

Part 1 of a Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. gazetteer of historical and political materials, a précis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs. The précis was prepared by Jerome Antony Saldanha, whose preface (under which his surname is erroneously spelt Saldana) is dated 25 November 1904, and published by the Government of India Foreign Deptartment, Simla, India.

The preface is an historical outline of the struggle for political dominance in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , including Portuguese, British, Wahabi [ Wahhābī A follower of the Islamic reform movement known as Wahhabism; also used to refer to the people and territories ruled by the Al-Saud family. ] and Turkish expansion. The chapters (titles shown in italics) deal with the subject in an roughly chronological fashion:

1. Early history of Hasa and Katif , including: references to the area in Arabic writing; the first known Arab colonists; and early references to the area in British (East India Company) records;

2. Conquest of Hasa by the Wahabis and Turkish expeditions into Nejd [Najd] and Hasa, and their results 1800-1865 , including: conquest of the area by the Wahabis; Turkish expeditions to the area, 1811-19 and 1836-40; Amir Feysal’s [Fayṣal ibn Turki Āl Sa‘ūd] nominal dependence on Turkey, 1855; troubles in Katif, 1859-62; Turkish protest against British proceedings at Damaum [Dammām], 1862; the British war against Amir Feysal, 1865-66; obsolete title of award of Arabia by an Abbasid caliph to the Ottoman Porte; Ottoman ambitions in Arabia (Holy Ottoman Empire);

3. Turkish expedition to Nejd and Hasa, 1871-72 , including: origins of the expedition; intelligence from 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. , Colonel Lewis Pelly; British policy in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and effects of the Turkish expedition on that policy; Turkish assurances to Britain, communicated to Bahrain (spelt Bahrein throughout) by Pelly; Turkish promise of non-interference with the rulers of the Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ; narrative of the events leading up to and including the landing of the expeditionary force in Nejd; Turkish designs on Katar [Qatar], and their hoisting of the Turkish flag at Budaa [Al-Bidda]; Turkish naval activity in the Gulf, and Britain’s naval response; murder of a suspected Turkish messenger at Bahrain; reasons for the non-interference of the British Government in operations on land; further narrative of the expedition and affairs in Nejd; evidence of Turkish designs on Bahrain; Turkish assurances; relations between Turkey and Abuthabi [Abu Dhabi]; close of the Turkish expedition;

4. Internal affairs of Hasa and Katif, 1872-1904 , including: administration and internal organisation; and a list of governors at Hasa, including events of significance occurring during their rule;

5. Survey of the Katif coast, 1873-74 , including: British intentions and permission gained from the Ottoman Porte; complaints of British survey officers landing on the Nejd coast; written permission to land to undertake surveying.

6. Increase of Turkish military and naval forces in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and Turkish policy , including: a memorandum by Captain T Doughty on the state of affairs in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ;

7. (1) Trade Relations of Hindu and other traders of Bahrain with Katif, and their disabilities , and (2) Proposal appointment of a consular officer at Katif ;

8. Piracies , including: piracies in Katif and Bahrain waters, 1878; ; revolt in Hasa and piracies in Katif and Bahrain waters, 1878-81; Turkish responsibilities and jurisdiction for the purpose of suppressing piracies in Katif waters, 1878-81; piracies in Katif and Bahrain waters in 1883; piracies in Katif and Bahrain waters in 1886; piracies in 1887-88; piracies in 1891-92; piracies in 1899-1900; piracies in 1902 and the proposal of the Chief of Bahrain to maintain an armed dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. for the pursuit of pirates, 1902-03;

9. Murder of Sheikh Selman-bin-Diaij-el-Khalifa [Shaikh Salman bin Diaj Āl Khalīfah] , a cousin of the Chief of Bahrain and his party about 40 miles south of Katif. Question of satisfaction and compensation for it ;

10. Turkish designs on Oman and the rest of the East Arabian Littoral, 1888-1899 ;

11. Summary of British declarations against Turkish encroachments in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and of the Porte’s assurances, 1871-1904 .

The cover of volume, on which the title is printed, also has a number of different pencil and pen annotations, marking former external references or numbering systems (‘P.2557/29’, ‘No.5’, ‘C238’).

Extent and format
1 volume (80 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged into eleven chapters, preceded by a preface. Each chapter is organised by subheadings, and its paragraphs numbered. The paragraph numbers are continuous throughout the whole volume, beginning on 1 at the start of the first chapter, and ending on 553/553A at the end of the eleventh chapter. A contents page at the front of the volume (ff.4-5) lists the chapters by their headings and subheadings, with each referring to paragraph, rather than page, numbers.

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 hand 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. Precis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs.’ [‎18] (30/160), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C238, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023514031.0x000020> [accessed 13 February 2025]

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