'File 5/196 II Slave traffic in the Gulf'

Content

The volume contains correspondence related to slave trading activity in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , including intelligence reports on suspected slave traders, and the movement of suspected slaves across the Gulf by traders. The volume also includes a number of reports on the extent and nature of the slave trade in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. during the period in question. Two reports are written by 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. (Sir Hugh Biscoe) in 1930. The first describes the extent of the slave trade in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (folios 34-40), with details on the principal slave trade routes and sources of slaves, including the Makran coast and the Nejd and Hejaz regions of Arabia. The second report investigates the character of domestic slavery in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (folios 43-50). Domestic slaves, wrote Biscoe, include those employed as bodyguards to the shaikhs, house servants and coffee makers. Biscoe noted that the lots of these slaves were generally good, contrasting their lot to the 'industrial slaves', i.e. those employed as pearl divers or date plantation workers. Biscoe described the region's indebted pearl divers as being 'virtual slaves.' Another report, written by Charles Belgrave, Advisor to the Ruler of Bahrain, describes the pearling industry around 1930, and the measures taken by the previous 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 Bahrain (Major Clive Daly) to improve the lot of indebted pearl divers (folios 23-26). The volume also contains a report, written in 1934 by the then 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 Bahrain, Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Loch, on the slave trade in Nejd/Hejaz regions (folios 159-60). Loch writes that slaves taken from the Baluchistan-Makran region generally end up in this part of Arabia. A list of slaves manumitted at Sharjah between 1936 and 1938 is also included (folios 174-80).

Extent and format

1 volume (216 folios)

Arrangement

Correspondence has been compiled in a rough chronological order, from earliest at the front of volume to latest at the rear. Office notes at the end of the volume cover the period of the correspondence, again running in chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 218; 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 9-170; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in

English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

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.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/1/230

Former external reference(s)

A Series: 5/196 II

History of this record

Date(s)

25 Nov 1929-7 Dec 1938 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Boundary disputesPearl industry and tradeReportsConcessionsSlave trade

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'File 5/196 II Slave traffic in the Gulf', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/230, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0000cb> [accessed 23 April 2024]

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