File 3208/1908 Pt 1 ‘Persian Gulf: Dayir pirates (coast of Persia)’

IOR/L/PS/10/155/1

Download PDF (69 MB)

Search within this record

The record is made up of 163 folios. It was created in 1904-1908. It was written in English. 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. .

About this record

Content

Part 1 of the volume comprises correspondence concerning criminal actions reported to have taken place in ports and around the coastal waters of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , including arms trafficking and murder, designated by British Government officials under the rubric of piracy. Key correspondents include: 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. (Major Percy Zachariah Cox); Foreign Office officials (Sir Louis Du Pan Mallet; Sir Charles Hardinge); the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty (Sir Charles Inigo Thomas); the Under Secretary of State for India (Sir Arthur Godley); the British Ambassador at Tehran (Charles Murray Marling).

Reference is made to incidents taking place in 1906 and 1907 (ff 182-185), committed by individuals previously expelled from Mohammerah [Khorramshahr], and now residing in the Dashtī ports of Dayir [Bandar-e Deyyer] and Kangan [Bandar-e Kangān] in Persia. Much of the subsequent correspondence details British officials’ negotiations with the Persian Government to send vessels to the Dashtī coast, in order to apprehend the suspected individuals and destroy ‘strongholds’ along the coast. Naval reports sent by Captain C S Hickley of HMS Highflyer (ff 54-66a) and Lieutenant Shirley Litchfield of HMS Sphinx (ff 66b-75) provide details of the expedition in November 1907 to Dayir, which resulted in the successful apprehension of the suspects. Later correspondence refers to the British Government’s expression of appreciation for the assistance provided by the Khan of Bander Rig [Bandar Rīg] in apprehending the suspects, the handover of the suspects to the Shaikh of Mohammerah, and British officials’ desire that, should it be proved that the suspects committed murder, the death penalty be passed on them.

The file also contains correspondence relating to the Shaikh of Kuwait’s activities in dealing with incidents of piracy in the waters around the Shatt al Arab, and the deportation from Muscat to Karachi of a number of Afghans believed to be involved in arms trafficking.

Extent and format
163 folios
It is part of
Written in
English in Latin script
Type
Archival item

Archive information for this record

Access & Reference

Original held at
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.
Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference
IOR/L/PS/10/155/1
Former external reference(s)
File 3208/1908 Pt 1

History of this record

Date(s)
1904-1908 (CE, Gregorian)

Use and share this record

Share this record
Cite this record in your research

File 3208/1908 Pt 1 ‘Persian Gulf: Dayir pirates (coast of Persia)’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/155/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100027915585.0x000001> [accessed 28 March 2024]

Link to this record
IIIF details

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_100000000419.0x000030/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images