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‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [7v] (14/130)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
w
4
Shuster, ( 5 ) Dizful and ( e ) Hawizeh. These local Governors had to collect and
pay to the Persians a certain fixed revenue, one part of which called Diwan, was
paid into the Shah's treasury and the other JPish/cash, was paid to the Governor
General. The chiefs thus enjoyed practical autonomy within their territory in
matters of revenue and judicial administration.
(iii) Murder of Sheikh Lufti, Chief of Kaab Arabs.
9. On 20th May 1878, the
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 Basrah reported to Political
Asrent.
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.
, that Sheikh Lufti
Political A.. Peptember 18.8, No 8 . 74-86. tLe Chief of the Kaah ArabS) and
his son, Gathhan, had been murdered by their cousins, Jafir and Salman, sons
of the Sheikh Mahomed el Faris at Jerralu. Colonel Nixon asked the Politi
cal Agent at Basrah for a detailed enquiry and report, as the affairs of Moham-
merah and Kaab Arabs were generally of considerable importance. He also
pointed out that the crime called for earnest reprobation.
10. Prom the reply of the
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.
, Basrah (which forms enclosure
to No. 108, dated 15th June, 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.
,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
), it
appears that the particulars of the case are as follows :—
It was said that the
Prince-Governor
A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925).
, when irritated by the difficulty of
extracting money from Haji Jabir, threatened to get him removed from the
Governorship of Mohammerah and Sheikh Lufti appointed in his stead; but
no one regarded the threat as serious, as Sheikh Lufti was an exhausted debau
chee and at times suffered from delirium tremens—
" As Sheikh Lufti was the head of Al-bu-Nasir family and hereditary Sheikh of the Kaab
Arabs, his reinstatement to the Sheikhihip of Felayah was not open to objection, but it was
ttnwise and has ended badly."
11. The immediate causes for the murder were:—Sheikh Lufti was
collecting money from the Kaab, for which he had rendered himself responsible
to the
Prince-Governor
A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925).
on being mnde Sheikh, and was accompanied by the two
lads, Jnfir and Salman, sons of his cousin, Mahomed-el-Faris. The elder of
these, Jafir, was reported to have written three times to his father complaining
of the way Lufti treated him, but in reply his father told him to have patience.
This it seems he could not do, and as Sheikh Lufti was " writing a letter and
using abusive language to the people round him as usual," Jafir drew a pistol
and shot him, and Salman shot Gathban, the eldest son of Sheikh Lufti. Jafir
and Salman then rode off together and Bashir, the other son of Lufti.
12. When the correspondence on the subject was received by the Govern
ment of India, they asked Colonel Nixon by telegram to report his views as to
the nature and connection of British interests with affairs of Kaab Arabs, which
necessitated the order for detailed enquiries and earnest reprobation of the crime
reported.
13. Colonel Nixon on reply drew attention to a telegram of the Govern
ment of India, No. 1515-P., dated 27th June 1877, directing him to keep them
informed of the assemblage of Persian troops and any events of importance that
might occur in his jurisdiction,
14. Colonel Uoss also pointed out that Colonel Nixon's action indicated a
more marked supervision of Mohammerah affairs than had hitherto been ptav
cised by the Baghdad
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
. er *
15. The Government of India thereupon issued the following instructions
to Colonel Nixon in their letter No. 367-P., dated 29th January 1879:
" Jn reply, I am to say that the Government of India, having regard to the general inex
pediency of interfering m internal disputes along the coast of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
which do not
affect British interests and general politics, consider that the detailed enquiry which you ordered
Mr, Robertson to institute into the circumstances of the murder of Sheikh Lufti, was unnecessary
There is a marked difference between making an enquiry of this nature and merely collecting
information regarding any event of importance which may happen amonsr the trihe^ whi'lo fiS
telegram of the Government of India, dated 24th June 1877, which you cite refers to a time
when there was war between Turkey and Russia and Persian troops were beino- assembled at
Mohammerah, 0
/
About this item
- 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 View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/C242
- Title
- ‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:11r, 13r:17r, 18r:29v, 31r:38v, 39v:64v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence