‘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.’ [78] (90/160)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
7S
CHAPTER EIGHTH-
PIEACIES.
(I) Piracies in the Katif and Bahrein waters, 1878.
292. The seas between the island of Bahrein and the coasts of Katif and
Katar hare for long been the scenes of piracies of Beni Hajir and other mar
auding Bedouin tribes of Arabia. We have noticed the depredations commit
ted by the Beni Hajirs (noted in the Katar Precis and also the Bahrein Precis) t
since the occupation of the Katif district by the Turks in 1871. In 1878 the
Bedouin tribes gave a fuller rein to their marauding habits in the Katif waters
and the security of the Gulf became so endangered, that the British Gov
ernment had to make up their mind either to hold the Turkish Govern
ment responsible for the piracies, or to proceed on their own account to
put a stop to a intolerable state of things. We now enter into an important
epo^h in the political history of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, and no apology is needed
for going minutely into the piratical acts in the Katif waters reported since
1878, and the questions as to the responsibility for order raised thereby.*
193. On the 20th September Colonel Eoss telegraphed that the Beni
«,.*• i » « u ,0-0 xt Haiir had seized and plundered some
Politic*! A., November 1878, No. 108. ,, J . , _ 0 , ^ °
Persian vessels off Sheikh Shaab, an island
on the Persian coast of the Gulf, and wounded two men. The same gang had
also plundered another vessel, nationality unknown, carrying off Es. 10,000 in
cash and murdering the Nakoda. They had then re-landed on the Katar
Coast, and Colonel Eoss suggested that the Ottoman Government should be
addressed regarding their proceedings. He then drew attention to Zobarah,
a port on the mainland opposite Bahrein, the Chief of which was said to be
implicated, and enquired whether there was any objection to his dealing direct
wirh that place and using coercive measures if necessary. Turkish rule, he
said, had never been asserted there, and the clnim of Bahrein to exercise
authority had been disallowed by the Government of India
294. Onthe2tth the Resident telegraphed as^in reportin? the result of
Political a., November 1878, Ko, 112. inquiries made by Her Majesty's Ship
V ulture. It appeared that responsibilitv
for the outrages complained of rested partly with the Turkish districts o'f
Katif and Bidaa, but in a greater degree with Zobarah, whence two vessels
had been despatched under the Chief's son to attack a passing boat belonging
to Katar. The Chief of Bahrein had also incurred serious culpability by re^
ceiving the Chief of Zobarah and his son as guests and by other acts.* Sneedv
and severe punishment of Zobarah seemed to Colonel Koss the first measur'e
requisite ; the Tu ks would not, he thought, be able to co-operate inasmuch as
they were fully occupied in dealing with the Wahabis.
Political A., November 1878, No. 116. 293. On the 5th October the GoTCTn-
ment of India telegraphed to the Eesident
as follows;—
"Your te'egrams, 2ntli and 24th September. Place before Turkish Governor full
proo s against Zobarah, and ask f-r punishment, offerin? naral assistance if required If
Governor refuse to set, report detailed measures vou recommend. With rega:d Bahrein
satisfy yourself as to facts, and report proposals. In regard to Hesiden y steamer, arrange to
use war vessels, which will be reinforced if possible, lou are authorized' to use force xostov
any future piracies by sea " v
Political a ., November 1878. No. us. . a ^ et ter of the same date the c e
instructions were amplified as follows
" In replv, I am to say that, while the Government of India will not permit the mari
time peace of the Persian (^ulf to be disturbed by expeditions, even th^no-h thev proceed
from ports actually m Turkish possession, they consider that, bef. re any steps are' taken ^o
Iring Zobarah to acc unt, the Turkish local authorities should he comamnifa-ed with Yr u
are, therefore, directed to placp in the hands of the Turkish Governor the report of the Officer
Commanding Her Maje-ty's Ship Vulture, as well as any other evidence showing that Z ba-
rah i« guilty. You should demand that Zobarah be properly punished and should offer anv
naval assistance that it may be in your power to give. If the Turkish authorities declme to
• it may be ment : oned here that the first three sectiona of this cUuter are mainly indebted tn Vr pu_,i .
and other nutea in the k oreign Departmeut. ^ 7 maeoted to Mr. Plowden a
About this item
- 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 View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘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.’ [78] (90/160), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C238, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023514031.0x00005c> [accessed 13 February 2025]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023514031.0x00005c
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023514031.0x00005c">‘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.’ [‎78] (90/160)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023514031.0x00005c"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001b8/IOR_L_PS_20_C238_0091.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001b8/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/C238
- Title
- ‘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.’
- Pages
- front, front-i, i-r:ii-v, 1:4, 1:2, 1:35, 37:40, 42:80, 82:108, 110:144, iii-r:iii-v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence