Skip to item: of 160
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

‘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.’ [‎50] (62/160)

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.

Apply page layout

50
Attitude of Bahrein Chief. Evidence of Turkish designs against
Bahrein.
179. As already shown in paragraph 57, the Chief of Bahrein at the com-
mencement of the Expedition expressed bis reliance on trucial engagement, and
requested advice and protection from the British Government. On receipt of
the assurances from the Turkish Government [vide paragraph 72] tbat no in
tention was entertained of obtaining supremacy over Bahrein, the Chief was in
formed accordingly by Colonel Pelly on the 26th May, and told that the Turkish
Expedition in no way affected the treaty rights and obligation of the British
Government or trucial Chiefs. In subsequent letters the Chief was directed to
observe strict neutrality, and that as long as he observed Articles II and III
of the Treaty with the British Government, that Government would fulhl its
obligations. The Chief in reply expressed himself determined not to act against
these agreements in any way.
180 In accordance with the advice and instructions received by him the
Chief had throughout carefully abstained from committing himself with
either of the belligerent parties, and had always shown himself ready to accept
and act on the advice of Colonel. Pelly, more especially in the matter of the
murder of the Turkish messenger (paragraph 149) and the demand made on him
by Midhut Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. for the surrender of two boats (paragraph 153). When it
was thought that Midhut Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. was about to visit Bahrein, the Chief asked for
instructions from Colonel Pelly as to his behaviour on the occasion. Colonel
Pelly recommended him to be courteous to all guests of consequence, who visited
his territories, but absolutely to abstain from mixing himself up in any quarrels
that might be going on beyond his own frontiers.
181. In October 1871 a misunderstanding arose between the Chief and his
brothers, which might have been incovenient at that juncture, had not an
amicable settlement been arrived at. According to the Chief's account,
he had hitherto assigned to his two brothers a third of the revenues of Bahrein,
but, urging that this was not sufficient for them, they demanded one-half,'
which the Chief eventually consented to give so that there might be no open
ing for his enemies to intervene.
182. Abdul Aziz, a son of Saud, appears to have visited Bahrein in
August, and to have been received with great ceremony by the Chief. Ihere
is nothing to show what was his object in visiting the island, nor is any further
mention made of him in the subsequent reports.
183. Notwithstanding the explicit assurances of the Ottoman Porte as
regards Behrein indications had not been wanting of a desire on the part of
the Baghdad local authorities to obtain some pretext for interfering in the affairs
of the island. The tone of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's letters on the subject of the murder of
the messenger and the demand for surrender of the two Katif boats (para
graphs 147 and 150) needs no comment.
184. In a letter of the 29th December 1871,* Colonel Pelly reported the
* Enclosure to Bombay Government No. 378, Substance of a Conversation between an
rr-rT, „ . ^ t . c ^? f his acquaintance and Slidhut.
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , when the latter was at Katif. The Arab was a w T ealthv pearl merchant
whose information had always proved accurate, and Colonel Pelly had no
moral doubt that his conversation with the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. was brought direct from the
lashas lips. According to the Arab's account, after conversation on other
subjects, the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. asked him if he had ever heard of the Sultan of Eoom
[Turkey], and said that he would very soon hear of him.
" The Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. asked me/' proceeded the Arab, "whether it were true that the Bahreinees
had petitioned to be taken under British protection. I replied it was quite true, and that
all claeses^ had long: been and still were most anxious for the protection o£ the Britibh flacr
I3ut that it bad not been accorded to them.
" The Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. then asked me if I thought I could procure the signatures of 50 or 60 sub-
stantial Bahrein merchants and others to a petition begging for Turkish rule. I said perhans
such a thing might be done, but I was doubtful. 1
" The Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. asked how long it would take me to try and collect the names. I said three
or four days. He said very well, then I will delay my departure from Kateef for three days
I told him that success in the matter would seem to be very doubtful. Hut thif T wmilri
repoit to him at the end of three days.

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.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

‘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.’ [‎50] (62/160), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C238, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023514031.0x000040> [accessed 25 April 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

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_100023514031.0x000040">‘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.’ [&lrm;50] (62/160)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023514031.0x000040">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001b8/IOR_L_PS_20_C238_0063.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

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_100000000884.0x0001b8/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image