'File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif' [54v] (139/451)
The record is made up of 1 volume (211 folios). It was created in 9 Sep 1900-20 Aug 1913. It was written in English, Arabic 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.
' qj idBTit ICil ,
No s// of 1904.
British
Residency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
and Consulate-General,
Buslnire, J U L Y 1904,
Bushire
3/^
To
The Assistant
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.
Bahre in,
Sir,
Referring to your letter No 166 dated 16th July, I
have the honour to state that you are at liberty to inform
the Hindoo trader Thawerdas J animal that in the absence
of an official British representative at Kateef / the amount
of personal protection that can be afforded is limited but
so far as the
Residency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
can accord its good offices through
you as the nearest British official, they will be so ac
corded .
2„ I may mention for your oiun information that a more
effective arrangement is under consideration but has not
at present received sanction,
I have the honour to be
Sir,
Your most obedient servant.
/tec
/ * I'a J or,
Offg
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.
.
About this item
- Content
This file contains correspondence between the British Assistant 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. , and later the British 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 and the British 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. at Bushire, as well as with British officials in Constantinople, Basra and India. There is also correspondence with Ottoman officials, including Sayyid Tālib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , mutasarrıf of al-Ḥasā’, and various Hindu merchants, including Tekchand Dwarkadas, Thawerdas Janimal and Seth Chatamal Tarachand.
The file concerns the status and mistreatment of Hindu merchants ( bunniahs ) resident in and trading with al-Qaṭīf, dating back to 1900. In a letter dated 2 August 1903, John Calcott Gaskin, Assistant 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, gives a detailed report concerning commercial operations between Bahrain and al-Qaṭīf and the status of Hindu merchants trading in dried dates with complaints being made against the customs farmer (folios 24-27). In a further piece of correspondence dated 9 April 1904, it is claimed that Hindu merchants are descriminated against and made to pay 12% duty by the customs farmer at al-Qaṭīf (folios 43-44).
Similar incidents are reported in subsequent years. Also in 1904 there are enquiries by various Hindu merchants about opening businesses in al-Qatif and the possibility of British protection, including a petition by the principal Hindu merchants of Bahrain (folios 51-53). There is further correspondence in 1905 and 1906 with representations to Sayyid Tālib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. (folios 66-69), and the Sublime Porte to resolve the situation (folios 84-85).
Also included within the file are copies of Tekchand Dwarkadas's accounts (folios 128-149); a report on the status of Hindu merchants trading with al-Qaṭīf (folios 178-180); a report concerning the absence of Hindu merchants in al-Hafūf, al-‘Uqayr, Najd, and Qatar (folios 182-183); the opening of a shop at al-Qaṭīf by Seth Chatamal Tarachand of Messrs Gangaram Tikamdas & Co. in 1910 (folios 184-193); and the situation of Hindu merchants at al-Qaṭīf after Eastern Arabia had been taken by ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Sa‘ūd) in 1912 (folios 194-195).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (211 folios)
- Arrangement
This file is arranged approximately in chronological order.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: This file has a foliation number in the top right hand corner. The number is enclosed by a circle, running from the first folio of text and ending at the back cover. Attached to folio 40 is an envelope which contains folios 40A to 40F. Foliation skips from 115 to 117.
Condition: Folios 35 and 36 are damaged on the right hand margin with Arabic text missing.
- Written in
- English, Arabic and French in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif' [54v] (139/451), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/24, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023828368.0x000086> [accessed 27 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023828368.0x000086
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_100023828368.0x000086">'File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif' [‎54v] (139/451)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023828368.0x000086"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0002f7/IOR_R_15_2_24_0140.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
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_100000000193.0x0002f7/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/2/24
- Title
- 'File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:v-v, 1r:6v, 8v:19v, 21v:30v, 31v:33v, 36v:40r, 40ar:40er, 40fr, 40ev, 40v:44v, 44ar:44av, 45r:52v, 54r:60v, 61v, 62v:64v, 65v:75v, 76ar:76av, 76r:77v, 78v:95v, 95av, 96r:115v, 117r:198v, 200r:210v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence
!['File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif' [‎54v] (139/451) 'File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif' [‎54v] (139/451)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0002f7/IOR_R_15_2_24_0140.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg)