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‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [‎6v] (12/130)

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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2
(ii) Early History of Kaab Arabs.*
3. The earliest record we have got of Arabistan Affairs is a despatch* of
the Agent in Council of Basrah to the
• Se. page 47 of the 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. Frici, Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. * dated the 9th April
(1646 1846. 1767> referring to tlie Kaabs, which is a
very interesting document and deserves to be quoted here :—
* ( "We forward this address to Your Honors by the way of Aleppo to give cover to a
packet received the 31st ultimo from the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. by the Eagle, and at the same time to
eticlose a duplicate letter from th»8 factory An East India Company trading post. bearing date the 23rd of the last month. Incon
sequence of the orders received from the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. by the Eaglty we now transmit Your
Honors the best accounts we can collect as to the rise of the troubles with the Sheikh Shack
Soliman. The Chaub is originally a subject of the Turks, and ha^ for many years possessed
a considerable territory within their dominions bctderihg upon the Persian Empire fo<- which
he ouo-ht, and did for some years, annually to p^y a large sum of money into the Treasury
of this Pachaship. A few years after the death of Nadir Shah, and in the troubles that
followed it, he also got possession of a territory in the Persian dominions ; by this means he
became a subject of both powers. The territory of Gaban and its districts is the name of
that be possesses oil the Turkish, and Durack, that in the Persian by being in possession of
such large territories, and not paying the usual tribute to either power. Owing to the
general decline of the Turks in these parts, and the troubles that then reigned throughout the
Persian Empire, he grew in a manner independent of either, and so^ n became rich by possess-
in 0 * the whole revenue. Judging, however, that he should in time be called on by both
powers foV an account of the arrears due to them, he foresaw that a Marine force would be his
greatest security, and accordingly by degrees raised it to the strength it is at present.
Uemands have been constantly made on him both by Turks and Persians for these arrears,
and he as constantly has eluded the payment of them. This disobedience and several petty
robberies his people were daily committinof, both by sea and land, at length brought the
arms of the Turks upon him. Soliman Pachi in the year 1761 ordered his Mussalim During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. of this
place out against them, who with a numerous army marched to Gaban from whence tha
Chaub fled to his fort at Duraek, which is so situated as to render the coming at it a work
of great time and trouble. By this he gained his ends, and by means of presents at
Baghdad bought his peace with the Pacha when his fort was near falling into the hands of
Ali ^Aga, then General of the Turkish Army, On the commencement of this war with him
in the y^ar 1761 the Government requested of Alexander Douglas, Esquire, and Mr. Stewart,
the assistance of the Swallow, then hera, which was accordingly judged necessary to be com
plied with ; but the Turkish forces withdrawing the Swallow returned hither. In the latter
end of the year 1763 All Pacha came down himself with a considerable army against him,
but kno" ing they were not equal to the attempt 1 y sea, as his Marine force was considerably
increased since the last war, he requested William Andrew Prince, Ksquire, then Ag^nt, to
assist him with two vessels of Your Honors' then here, the Tariar and Swallow, which it was
judged necessary should be complied with, and was accordingly done. They had several
encounters with ihe gallivats of the Chaub, but peace being as;ain established, our vessels
returned hither. In the year 1765 Curriu Caun came against him, on which the Chaub fled
with his gallivats to sea, and the Caun destroyed his fort it Durack; yet he was not able to
overcome him as he had no Marine force, he therefore contented himself with what he had
done and retired from thence. The Caun had in this war requested the ass-istance of the
Turkish galleys and forces that he might utterly destroy him, but the dilatoriness of this
Government so chagrined the Cauti, that after waiting a short time he retired in disgust. A
very short time afterthe Caun was gone forces came from Baghdad, with oiders to the
Mussalim During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. to go out against him. This he accordingly did with his forces and the Captain of
the Pacha's galleys, but judging thdr own Marine force not equal to the Chaub's the Pacha
by letter and the Mussalim During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. here applied to Mr. Wrench, their Agent, for the assistance of an
English vessel (the only one then here) called the tanrn/ Snoiv y Captain Parkinson. And
Captain Parkinson, in consequence of some stipulation with this Government made in his
favour by Mr. Wrench, was prevailed on to go on this service ; he accordingly went down the
river and joined the Turkish galleys which were lying on this side the river with the camp of
the Mussalim During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. , while the ChanbVforces and gallivats were opposite to them, and a few shot
were some times exchanged. Your Honrs' sloop was also employed on this service for the
assistance of the Government, but nothing material happened on either side, and a seeming
accommodation soon took place : the Mussalim During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. returned to town, and the Chaub retired.
r lhis was about the end of May 1765. On the 10th and 17th July the Chaub took the
" Sally " aiid-'^ F^tt William/' Your Honors' affairs under the direction of this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ha\e
met with little or no alteration since the date of our last respects. Notwithstanding the en
deavours of A^asy Caun, the Persian Ambassador, with the-Chaub Sheikh Soliman to
reconcile the disputes in which this country has lately been involved, the Chaub still continues
the same evasive methods in hopes to anmse us for another season, concluding it the only
means be has of escaping. Agasy Caun has had a conference with him, and, as the Caun
informs us, received rather insult thai anything satisfactory, either with respect to the Turks
or us : we have been too long amused, and we are afraid Your Honors will think so. With the
hopes of bringing this Chaub to proper terms, we would willingly embrace pacific measures ;
but consistent with your credit, they are not in our power, your interest is our only aim. It is
♦ For an interesting hiatory o£ the K»ab tribes and Mohamuierab see Sir fL Eawliueou's meiaoraudum printed
as Appendix to tbU 1 recis. v

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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.’ [‎6v] (12/130), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C242, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023528248.0x00000e> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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