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‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [‎63v] (126/130)

The record is made up of 1 volume (65 folios). It was created in 1903. It was written in English and French. 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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116
There were 12 boats anchored in the creek when I visited the place, which
had lately disembarked their cargoes. A
a e 0 ra e " Turkish brig of war lies off the Haffar's
canal, with the avowed object of preventing the boats which enter the Shat-el-.
A^-ab laden with Indian goods, from turning into that channel, but the
obstruction is easily evaded. Ihe boats bound for Mohammerah now either sail
i|p the Bamishir river, instead of the Shat or if they draw too much water to
admit of their passing the bar at the mouth of the former river, they land their
cargoes on the island of Abadan, a few miles below the mouth of the Haffar
<knal, and then passing the Turkish guardship empty, they anchor off Moham-
jHerah and bring their goods across by land.
Mohammerah has thriven being a free port, and it has owed this advantage
r Hitherto a free port. to the uncertainty of its dependency. If
Probability of losing this advantage on the settle- Turkish authority were acknowledged, the
ment of the dispute at present pending. • i. j „ i i c i
s import duties would ot course be put
at once on a par with those of Bussorah, If, on the other hand, the power of
Persia were'sufficiently established to disregard conciliation, I imagine that an
attempt would be made to institute a tariff similar to that in operation at
Bushire and Bunder Abbas. Mohammerah would in either event assuredly de
cline, for in Arab estimation it has no natural advantages that I am aware of
superior^ to those of Bussorah. Sheikh Jaabir no doubt is sensible of this, and
his anxiety for the prosperity of his town is thus equally interested with his
own personal ambition in protracting a settlement of the question. His pre-
dominent feeling, however, at present is hostility to Sheikh Thamir, and his
family, and as blood has now been shed between them, it will be in vain, I think,
to look for permanency in any arrangement that shall make Mohammerah sub
ordinate to Chaab, or even shall include the two divisions of the tribe under the
same Government.
I have only to observe in conclusion that there are present independent of
the island^ of Abadan 12 places inhabited by the Chaab north of the Haffar
canal, which are in dispute between Persia and Turkey, of these, Mohammerah
and Hoozan belong to Sheikh Jaabir and are at present dependent upon Persia
that power however deriving no pecuniary benefit from them at all commen
surate with the value of her protection Boojidee and Kootal Nawasir pay their
revenues to the Bawa Arabs, who consider themselves subjects of the Persian
crown, either as dependents upon Dezful upon Howeizah or upon Eellahiah.
And Tamar El Jadeed, Khomeisah, Shakhoora, Nahr Toossoof, Darband,
El Khagin and El Haffar are under the immediate surveillance of the Chief
of Koot-el-Sheikh, acting as the deputy of the Sheikh of Eellahiah, and are
subject to the payment of 300 tons of dates yearly for land rent to the Govern
ment of Bussorah.
With the exception of occasional [presents from Sheikh Jaabir, the Persian
crown derives no revenue whatever either in money in kind, or in military
attendance from any of these disputed lands, and it can therefore be of little
consequence to her, that the line of frontier which I have traced in a previous
paragraph, while it secures to her, Koot-el-Sheikh on the southern, and Mo
hammerah and Haffar on the northern side of the canal, restores to Turkey all
the other lands both in the island of Abadan and on the banks of the Shat-el-
Arab above Haffar, which are cultivated by the Chaab k
(Sd.) H. EAWLINSON,
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. t Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. ,
G. C. Press, Sia la,—No. S9C9 F. D.—2.3-05.—30.—H. C. Q.

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Content

The volume, stamped ‘Secret’ on the front cover and frontispiece, is part 1 (historical and political materials) of a précis of Persian Arabistan affairs. It was prepared by Judge Jerome Antony Saldanha of the Bombay Provincial Civil Service, and published in 1903 by the Government of India Foreign Department, Simla, India.

The contents of the volume run as follows:

Chapter 1, entitled Internal affairs, 1876-1904 , including: early history of the region, up until 1873; early history of the Kaab tribe; murder of Shaikh Lufti, Kaab chief; death of Haji Jabir Khan, Governor of Mohammerah [Khorramshahr], and Shaikh Mizal’s succession; local chiefs and governors between 1878 and 1883; Govenor-Generals of Arabistan; trouble in the Kaab districts, and release of Shaikh Mizal’s brother Mahomed; disturbances in Arabistan and Persian intrigues, 1888; narrative of events, 1891-97; murder of Shaikh Mizal [Maz’al bin Jabir bin Merdaw al-Ka’bi] and succession of his brother, Shaikh Khazal [Khaz’al bin Jabir bin Merdaw al-Ka’bi], 1897.

2. Karun river [Rūd-e Kārūn] navigation and irrigation schemes, 1871-79 , including a history of the navigation and irrigation schemes, 1871-77; proposed railways from Rehst [Rasht] to Teheran, and from Teheran to the Karan river; question of navigation of the Karun, 1878-79.

3. Karun river navigation and irrigation schemes, 1881-83 , including: an historical overview; navigability; trade routes; general remarks. Four appendices follow chapter 3: A) Reports by Colonel Edward Ross, 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. , on the Karun river navigation; reports by Captain Henry Wells on the Ahwaz canal; memoranda on the Karun river by Sir Henry Rawlinson; a report comparing routes from Ispahan [Eşfahān] to the sea, by Captain Wells; and Felix Vauvillier’s scheme for establishing water communication between Kermanshah [Khorramshahr] and Dizful [Dezfūl] (in French).

4. Opening of the Karun to navigation of all nations, 1888-89 .

5. Obstacles in the way of the British enterprise on the Karan river , including: the erection of warehouses and business premises on the banks of the river; misunderstanding over tonnage dues and certification; charges against Mr John Gaskin over irregular conduct and his employment of private servants; navigation of the Upper Karun; rival enterprises and intrigues of the Shaikh of Mohammerah; embargo on grain; fanatical outbreaks of local tribes and Persian soldiers against British interest.

6 . Karun river subsidy, 1890-1900.

7. Appointment of consular officers in Arabistan , including: the appointment of Mr William McDouall as Vice-Consul for Mohammerah, 1890; the appointment of Major Edmund Boteler Burton to act for McDouall; the appointment of Lieutenant David Lorimer as Vice-Consul for Arabistan; the appointment of a consular surgeon for Arabistan; headquarters and accommodation for the Vice-Consul and Consular Surgeon at Arabistan; attack on Lieutenant Lorimer and Colonel Douglas.

8. Construction of roads in aid of the Karun river trade.

9. Desire of Shaikh Khazal to place himself under British protection: interference of Belgian customs administration in Mohammerah Customs and British intervention, 1898-1904 , including Shaikh Khazal seeks British protection, 1898-99; proposed establishment of Persian customs at Mohammerah and Shaikh Khazal’s appeal to the British 1900-04; presence of Belgian customs boats on the Shat el-Arab, 1904.

10. Attempted change in the system of collection of customs on the Karun river, 1902-03 .

11. Disturbed state of Arabistan: attacks on the Shushan [ Sūsa ] : measures for its protection .

12. Restoration of Ancient Elam: projected irrigation works in Arabistan, 1903-04 .

The appendix at the end of the volume is a memorandum on the Kaab tribe and Mohammerah, dated 6 January 1844, and written by Sir Henry Rawlinson, 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. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. .

Extent and format
1 volume (65 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged into twelve chapters (identified by Roman numerals), which are followed by an appendix. Between chapters 3 and 4 there are a further five appendices, relating specifically to the contents of chapter 3. Most chapters are divided up by subheadings, and all chapters (not appendices) have numbered paragraphs. The paragraph numbers are continuous throughout the whole volume, beginning on 1 at the start of the first chapter, and ending on 336 at the end of the twelfth chapter. A contents page at the front of the volume (f 5) lists the chapters by their headings and subheadings, with each referred to by their paragraph, rather than page, numbers. Appendices are also listed on the contents page.

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 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 and French in Latin script
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‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [‎63v] (126/130), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C242, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023528248.0x000080> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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