![‘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.’ [‎130] (142/160)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001b8/IOR_L_PS_20_C238_0143.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘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.’ [‎130] (142/160)")
‘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.’ [130] (142/160)
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.
130
and to enquire what steps, if any, had been taken in the matter. Doubt was,
however, expressed by Lord Curzon at the time whether any satisfactory result
would be produced. The result of the visit of His Majesty's ship Sphinx to
Katif, as reported by the Resident in February 1900, was most unsatisfactory,
and the attitude of the local Turkish authorities towards the Commander and
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.
, who accompanied, was described as ft decidedly
discourteous. 1 ' The report was communicated to the
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.
on the
13th March 1902.
490. In a further report (letter No. 74, dated the ?nd April 1902) Lieute
nant-Colonel Kemball discussed the
secret e., may 1903, Nos. 117-143 (No. m). question of the possibility of obtaining
redress, in the event of no satisfactory settlement being made by the Turks. The
only suggestion he had was " that the Chief of Bahrein should be advised to stop
transhipment at Bahrein of cargo destined for Katif and Ojair and prohibit
trade with those ports until justice is done to him." This would, in his opinion,
effect the Turkish customs and inconvenience the mercantile community of the
places, who would probably induce tlie Mutassaril to take early action. The
information was also received by the Resident that the Vali of Basrah had
received <{ a strongly worded " telegram from Constantinople directing him to
cause the arrest and punishment of the murderers, and it was confirmed in Sir
N. O'Conor's despatch No. 68, dated the 20th February 1902, to the Foreign
Office, a copy of which was received with the Secretary of State's Secret des
patch No. 10, dated the 28th March 1902. The Resident was asked by
telesram on the 20th April to furnish the information required in the despatch,
<7^.,° whether the Sheikh of Bahrein would accept pecuniary compensation and
to what amount.
491. The reply of Colonel Kemball was as follows (No. 4-S. A., dated 6th
Jnne 190"2), which might be read as throw -
secret e., may 1903, noa. iiv-14''. (no. 128). on the interesting vendetta
customs of the Arabs
" The question of pecuniary compensation has been placed before the Chief of Bahrein, who
sa ys that, so far as the murders of Shpikh Selman and the ]attar's sod and nephew are con
cerned, he cannot accept pecuniary compensation. It is against Arab tradition for a Chief
to accept blood-money for the murder of members of his family, and as regards these three
murders a settlement of this nature is not possible. On behalf of the relatives of the other
twenty-one Bahrein subjects, who were murdered at the same timCj, he is willing to accept
pecuniary compensation. He says that, where pecuniary compensation in such cases is offered
and accepted, the customary amount paid is 800 Austrian dollars for each life. The blood-
money, therefore, for the 21 murdered persons amounts to 18 } H00 dollars, equivalent at the
present rate of exchange to Rs. 23,520. On account of the camels and other plundered pro-
pf-rtv, he claims Rs 11,620, and his total claim, therefore, amounts to Rs. 35,140. On
account of the three murdered members of his family above referred to apparently the Chief
requires " blood for blood/' and he spates that he cannot accept less than the surrender to him
of three of the persons implicated in the murder for execution or possible pardon, if it is
besought of him in a proper manner by the Chiefs of the Morra tribes.
It thus appears that the Chief is willing to accept pecuniary compensation in partial
settlement of the case, hut that, for a full and final settlement, he requires that the murderers
should be punished, so that the blood-feud between the Bahaih tribe to which the murderers
beloow-ed and the Khalifa family may be at an end. It would, of course, be highly satisfactory
if the Turkish Government could be induced to effect a settlement of this nature, that is to
say, pay the amount of Hs. 35,140 for the 21 murders and the plundered property, and also
surrender to the Chief of Bahrein three of the murderers,, or otherwise satisfy him on account
of the murders of the three members of his family. Judging, however, from the attitude of
the Turks so far and from the unsatisfactory nature of their authority in the Hasa district,
I doubt very much if so satisfactory a settlement can be expected at their hands.
« The Chief of Bahrein has informed the Assistant P. litical Agent that he has received a
communication from Sheikh Ah,i ed-bin-Thani of Katr, to the effect that the Bahaih tii\»e
have expressed their desire to come to an arrang ment of a nature which will settle the case,
and have asked Sheikh Ahmed to approach the Chief of Bahrein in the matter. The Chief
of Bahrein has hitherto refrained from giving Sheikh Ahmed a direct reply, thinking that
negotiations with the tribe through him may not be advisahle while the discussions in the
case are proceeding at Constantinople between His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador and the
Turkish Government If -he were to negotiate with the tribe through Sheikh Ahmed, he
cannot yet make a definite statement as regards the nature of the settlement which he would
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.
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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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.’ [130] (142/160), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C238, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023514031.0x000090> [accessed 13 February 2025]
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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