File 3208/1908 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Taona piracy case’ [231r] (99/206)
The record is made up of 102 folios. It was created in 16 Jun 1905-16 Jun 1913. 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.
Copy- No. 269 dated 22nd July 1909.
To , .
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zaid
Sheikh of Abu Thabi.
A.C.
It is a source of gratification that the first business
letter I address you after your accession is on a satisfactory
matter. Regarding the long outstanding case of piracy on a
Soudan boat by the people of Taona. Although the Persian
C/Overnment has persistently declared that all the culprits are
dead or disposed of, their statement has not been accepted
and I have never ceased to cause a watch to be kept for
these pirates. This season specific news was received from
the pearl banks and A1 Hamd Lillah H.lvl. S. n Redbreast” has
"been able to capture one of the pirates. It is still hoped
that the others m iy also be captured. Meanwhile it is
necessary to keep the prisoner in a safe place and it is
both inconvenient to keep him in H.M.Ship and also not
advisable to hand him to a Persian Official. I therefore think
fit to send him to you for safe custody by the Captain of
H.M.S. ff Redbreast M . After handing him over to you and getting
your receipt the Captain will leave and proceed to search for
the other two. Doubtless many of your Soudan subjects can
recognise the prisoners. Please sign and return the attached
receipt paper so that I may know that you have received him.
It is necessary that he should be kept in bonds, as he is a
desperate man, but I rely upon you to see that he is properly
fed and not ill-treated in any way. You will understand that
I only wish you to keep him temporarily. If we cannot find
his brothers in the next few days we will decide what
punishment he is to receive and take him over from you.
(Signed). P.Z. Cox .. Major,
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.
in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
About this item
- Content
Part 3 comprises correspondence relating to an incident occurring in 1902 in which four Abu Thabi [Abu Dhabi] pearl fishers (described as being of the Sudan tribe) were murdered near Charak [Bandar-e Chārak], Persia, by inhabitants of the nearby port of Taona [Bandar-e Ţāḩūneh]. The part’s principal correspondents are: Major Percy Zachariah Cox ( 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ); Sir George Head Barclay (British Minister at Tehran); William Graham Greene (Assistant Secretary to the Admiralty).
The correspondence covers:
- efforts by the British authorities to establish the identities and whereabouts of the perpetrators of the crime, and efforts to obtain compensation for the crime on behalf of the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi. Much is also made in the correspondence of the long period of time taken to resolve the case, and the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi’s frustration at the delay;
- the capture in 1909 by HMS Redbreast of one of the men believed to have been involved in the murders (including a report of the capture by Lieutenant Commander Joseph Armand Shuter of HMS Redbreast , dated 5 July 1909, ff 222-225);
- the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi’s refusal to detain the suspect at Abu Dhabi, for fear of the unrest that it might cause in the town, chiefly amongst the relatives of the murdered men;
- a proposal made by the Government of India to pay 11,000 Indian rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. as compensation to the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi, with hope of compensation forthcoming from Persia looking unlikely.
A minute at the end of the correspondence, written by Sir Thomas William Holderness of 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. , dated 1913 (f 190), offers a succinct précis of the events of the case.
- Extent and format
- 102 folios
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 3208/1908 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Taona piracy case’ [231r] (99/206), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/156/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100028917966.0x000043> [accessed 6 April 2025]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100028917966.0x000043
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_100028917966.0x000043">File 3208/1908 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Taona piracy case’ [‎231r] (99/206)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100028917966.0x000043"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x000031/IOR_L_PS_10_156_0466.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_100000000419.0x000031/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/156/1
- Title
- File 3208/1908 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Taona piracy case’
- Pages
- 182r:284v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence