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'File No. E/1. Hindu Merchants at Qatif' [‎88v] (209/451)

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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. .

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1)05.
Political A^runcy
.irtin 'th fi0V£7nbcrl9O)
To
^.e Political "Fteoi lunt in the Persia Gulf,
Bushlro,
Sir,
with rt fercnce to the second pars^raph of
No. 1C93 / dated the 97th October 1905,1 have the honor to
pi/)
report that the Oustons Pamcrs of Katlf have in .way relax-
eel tlieir opposition to the British In'li ji traders doing
business in that district in spite of the orders referred
to in the -Totioe fron the Sublime Porte,'To. 62558 dated
the 34th Awrust 19(>i,to the address of His Majesty^
Mbassador at Oonst^ntinopIe,nor have any of the excess
duties levied in the year 1903 been yet recovered,
o# 'Hie e^rport trade of 3'atif is practically all in
the h^jids of ttro local merchants, Man stir bin Juma' Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
Mid Ali bin Paras. The latter in conjunction with some sub-
oHinate partners has also famed the Customs of the Pro-
' .noe of Hasa for about the la-rt 1- years. There is bitter
ri'^ir-r entity between these tvro Katif nercharts and
^enever tjhe Oustoas T1 armers are in favour vrith the cons-
^,.atl" ch^nrinrr governors of the Provftnot -and districts
■ pe ~ ; ' s ^ ady to levy illegal rat.es of duty froia Iiansur
fro..i every other trader. At the sane tine both
T T
pjad Ali bin Faras are at one in their determination
the >toiniahs out of Katif,and as every successive
Kfl.1
" ' ia?I:es friends at once vrith one or the other
69*1 .'.-n 5 tG,thc. Hln<tUS i/ill never receive jTair "ol^y until
ths
8 ^ 0l ' v ' er of T^hese two persons is reduced. If the Porte
0U H o. l.y be induced to see that a pre ate r revenue should
0 finable from the date-gardens as soon as the growers
^ ^ d\bed to sell their stocks to the hirhest bidders
11 open market,the present unsatisfactory state of affairs

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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' [‎88v] (209/451), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/24, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023828369.0x000004> [accessed 22 August 2026]

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