'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Turkish Expansion on the Arab Littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa and Katif [al-Qaṭīf] Affairs' [‎74] (91/164)

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unreasonable periods, though they may have been over two months out from
India, and paying no attention to claims filed by them for debts recoverable
from Turkish subjects.
276. The unsettled condition of the Katif district since 1885, and the
attempt made on the high sea by the pirate Ahmed bin Selman in the same
year to murder Tikamdas Dwarkadas who escaped with the loss of his right
hand and Rs. 40,000 worth of pearls, further discouraged them from continuing
their residence in that district and obliged them to carry on .their business
transactions through local merchants who did not always look after the interests
of their principals, and finally Messrs. Gungaram Tikamdas three years ago
made another attempt to establish themselves there and sent across one of their
Mahomedan employes named Haji Jima bin Naser, who was repelled by the
Turkish officials, and from that date the Hindis practically suspended direct
trade with Katif.
277. We shall also note below a few specific complaints of Indian and
Bahreinese traders which were brought to the notice of Government.
278 In January 1884 a complaint was made by a Nakoda of a native
, 7 „ vessel Mubarak owned by a British Indian
Impressment of a British Indian vessel oy Tur- ■, * ,.
hish authorities at Katif, 1884. trader tor forcibly compelling him to
Ext e r n aiA ) -- o c t ober 1884, N qs. 434—44°. convey Turkish soldiers from Katif to
March 1895, Nos , 159—166. r\* • k . w ii ji
Ojair. A note veraole was addressed by
the British Ambassador to the Porte requesting that a suitable indemnity might
be paid to the Captain of the ship and that orders might be sent to the Turkish
authorities at Basrah not to impress vessels flying the British Flag. A copy of
this note was sent by Assim P^tsha to the Vali at Baghdad, and Mr. Plowden
was asked to do his utmost to have the question settled. In reply to an enquiry
by Mr. Plowden, Colonel Boss fixed a sum of Bs. 50 as a reasonable compensa-
tiou.
279. In January 1893 the Chief of Bahrein complained to us regarding the
T „ . , , .. .. . t > t . * l ev y P or t dues and capitation tax on
Levy of port dues and capitation tax on Bahrein t-> i • i i i i • .«
loatsand subjects at Katif. iialirem boats and their crews at Katif.
external a, march 1893,Noa. 108— 113. 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. reported, however,
(Letter No. 32, dated the 15th February 1893):—
" The fees referred to are levied on all vessels alike and not on Bahrein boats in particular.
The port of Katif is under Turkish suzerainty, and therefore no legitimate grounds for our
interference in the matter would appear to exist. The Chief of Bahrein accordingly been
informed that^ it would not be possible to address the Ottoman Government upon the subject,
but that if, owing to the levy of ports dues or other fees by the Turkish authorities, the voyage
to Katif is no, longer profitable, the boat owners can legitimately raise their present rates of
freight to Turkish ports. I have also communicated with the Resident 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. , in
the above sense.
280. The Indian merchants also complained of the excess of export
Non-refund of excess export duties levied, duties levied on them at one time.
Secret E.— January 1896, Nos. 132—143. ■^ n ex P 0r t duty of Only 1 per Cent, ad
february 1897, nos, 161—-163. valorem is leviable on exports from
March 1869, Nos. 160—162. t i , , " , «
may 1899, no. 97. iurKey to India; but, to prevent fraudu-
June 1897, Nos. 145 -m lent advantage being taken of this low rate
cf duty m the trade with Persia, exports to which are liable to a higher
rate, traders sending goods by sailing vessels, are obliged to deposit 8 per cent,
betore they can remove their property. Of this 8 per cent. 7 per cent, are
to be returned on production, within 121 days, of certificates showing that the
goods m question have really reached Indian ports. Though this is the rule,
British Indian traders from Bahrein had, for a long time, been exporting dates
to India from Katif without knowing that they were entitled to a refund, the
Refunded authorities keeping the 7 percent, which they should have
280-A. Though the matter was first brought to the notice of this Eesidencv
many years back, it does not appear to have been taken up strongly till 1895
when the traders petitioned, and a protracted correspondence was coramanced