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'File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif' [‎83v] (199/451)

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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

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Cop
" r ith refer en
despatch of September
neral Jlonahan's renly
S.P.Notice
same year,7 transmit to
"To. 62?58
August 24, I have received from t
1905.
representations made to
the subject of the trea
by the iatif Customs.
The promemoria from
in the Sublime Porte's
ing of the note would
was the specific total
Traders for excess of e
local customs,but that
190r that amount had be
-ers under this head. T
1899,after a prolonged
dent in the Persian rul
refund of 5012 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. o
by British Indian subje^
The sum of 2821 rupc
cation from the Sublime
by the Indian .Merchants
with the total of the c
obtained in September ]
Agent at Jahrein and foi
han's above mentioned de
Ilonahan reported that th
he had instructed the Mu
tnese sums and to abstai
future.
You will observe *
the reason why these cla:
-.ndian traders have not '
I
the properly 1
in India provi
delivered at a
the production
to our case as
ice of the cla
Hassa to'recov
raised by the
delaying payme
It would,he
the Assistant
Indian traders
the xiatif Cust
excess duty de
not having don
formality,if p
of monies undi;

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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
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'File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif' [‎83v] (199/451), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/24, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023828368.0x0000c2> [accessed 11 August 2026]

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