‘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.’ [128] (140/160)
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
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128
CHAPTER NINTH.
Murder of Sheikh Selman-bin-Diaij-el-Khalifa, a cousin of the Chief
of Bahrein and his party about 40 miles south of Katif. Question
of satisfaction and compensation for it-
1900—1804.
4.79. As an instance of Arab inter-tribal feuds and the incapacity of the
Secret e., february 1901, Nos. 1-4. lurkish Government to control these unruly
.... . „ tribes and their dilatory ineffectual methods
in obtaining redress for the most daring crimes, is furnished to us in a case of
the murder of a party of Bahreinese, which has been the subject of correspond
ence lor some four years.
XT 4 ,?-, 0 n T , : e i fa , cU 1 of tf?®, ca . s , e were first; reported in Mr. Gaskin's letter
^ 0 ' * , e December ] 900. The mtirdered Sheikh, on
the 18th November 1900, crossed to the mainland on a huntiu? expedition,
and took with him his two sons, Diaij and Bishir, a nephew named Abdul
Kaliman-bin-ltashid, 20 followers and four companions, one from the Morra
one from the Ajman, and two from the Beni Hajir as a precaution a-ainst
molestation from the tribes to which they belonged. A party of about fourteen
men of the Dowasir tribe of Bahrein crossed at the same time and encamped
near Sheikh Selman. On the 3rd December a large bodv of the Almorra
Bedouins came on their camels from the interior, and at nightfall, after
tethering their camels a few miles from Sheikh Selman's camp, they surprised
the hunting party a little after midnight, and massacred them all except Bishir
and two followers who escaped with wounds. One of the Sheikh's negroes was
said to have killed three of the attacking party before he was killed The
Dowasir lost one man who happened to be in the Sheikh's tent, but the'rest of
them mannged to escape to their boats and offer no assistance to Sheikh
Selman. When Mahomed-bin-Abdul Wahab
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
of Darin heard of the
carnage, he went out with a number of persons and buried the victims.
481. It was generally thought that the cause which led to these regrettable
murders was that, in 1898, some Amameras of Bahrein, while eno-a^ed in
hunting on the mainland, were attacked by Almorra robbers, and two of
their number were killed. The Amameras to be even with the Almorra
killed the son of their Sheikh in 1899, and the Almorra undertook the
recent massacre to avenge their Chief's son. The Khalifa family of Bahrein
have no blood-fend with the Almorra, and, though the Amameia were residents
of Bahrein, their behaviour could not be considered as being sufficient sround
for the Almorra to commit the murders. It seemed that the hope of obtaiuine
plunder was the inducement. b
482. The Chief of Bahrein, in speaking to the Resident on the ^ubiect
m December 1900, said that there were two courses open: "either that the
Briiish Government should represent the matter to the Turkish Government
and urge the Turkish authorities to give him redress, or that he should be
allowed to organize an expedition to pursue and punish the murderers
Lieutenant-Colonel Kemball agreed to represent the matter to the Turkish
authorities, through Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Basrah, but advised
the Assistant
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 Bahrein to communicate on the subiect with
the Kaimmakam of Katif. On the Government of India receivino- the Resident's
report on the occurrence, the Secretary of State was addressed by tele-ram
and it was said that the case appears to be one in which reparation by Turkish
Government must be insisted on. Only alternative would be independent
action by Sheikh, which Kemball has properly dissuaded. The telegram was
followed up by a despatch in which the suggestion as regards the necessity for
obtaining reparation with the least possible delay was reiterated (Despatch
No. 7, dated the 17th January 1901.) ^
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
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- 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