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'File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif' [73v] (177/451)
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.
Copy of a letter TTo:23 dated 2nd June 1905, from H. B.M. 's/"
Consul Busra to 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.
in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
IVith reference to your endorsement 110:699 of May 24th
last regarding the claims of Indian traders at Bahrein, I
should be obliged if you would be good enough to inform me
whether the claims referred to are the same as those stated
by the Resident in his letter to me No:842 of October 9th
1903, for excess duty on dates exported from Katif to Cutch
As some of the correspondence on this subject has been mis
laid it is not clear to us whether the case is the same.
If it is, I mau add that His Majesty's Ambassador at Con
stantinople, in his despatch of September 10th 1904 to Mr.
Monahan (transmitted to you, as I understand, in Mr.Mona-
han's letter to you No:34 of November 11th 1904) asked for
particulars substantiating the complaints of the impos
ition of extra harassing export duties, in order to enable
His Excellency to make fresh representations to the Sub-
lime Porte. These particulars do^seem to have yet been
furnisjied.
I will, on receipt of your reply, request the Vali to
instruct the Mutessarif of Hassa to communicate direct with
Captain Prideaux on the subject, in order to facilitate a
solution of the question, but as His Majesty's Embassy is
already in correspondence with the Sublime ?orte on the
subject and awaits further details before taking action, I
fear my request will not be attended with any useful result
and it would perhaps be preferable that 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 Bahrein should furnish me with the particulars.required
^or the information of His Majesty's Embassy.
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
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'File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif' [73v] (177/451), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/24, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023828368.0x0000ac> [accessed 21 July 2026]
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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