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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [277r] (552/949)
The record is made up of 1 file (475 folios). It was created in 7 Nov 1901-23 Aug 1905. 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. .
Transcription
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1
No. £ 0 # 0 -P. G., dated Bushire, the 30th October 1903.
Prom -Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kemball, C.I.E., Officiating
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.
,
To— L. W. Dane, Esq., I.C S., Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign
Department. a
Your telegram of the 20th instant reached me just as I was emharkin" on
the “ Lawrence * for Koweit, Bahrein and the Arab Coast and I was unable,
therefore, to despatch the short narratives which you ask for, until my return
to Bushire this morning.
I hope the narratives which I now submit will do. Few events of political
importance have occurred on this coast for many years past; the numerous
petty intertribal squabbles which have occurred would require space and could
hardly be included in a short narrative. It is almost impossible to form an
accurate estimate of the populations of the various places. The various esti
mates on record are very discrepant. My estimates are based on a recent
report from our Agent at Shargah corrected in accordance with such informa
tion as I have been able to collect on the spot.
ABU DHABI.
The Chief of this place is Sheikh Zaid bin Khalifa of the Beniyas tribe.
This tribe originally came from Nejd and was a Bedouin tribe.
The town of Abu Dhabi was founded about 1761 A. D. Some members
of the Beniyas tribe, which after its migration from Nejd had its habitation
in the country between Biddah and Brymee, being reduced to poverty by the
loss of their cattle took up their abode on the Coast between Debaye and the
spot where Abu Dhabi now stands. Water, the existence of which in this
part was not previously known, being found, the first establishment which
consisted of 20 houses took place, and in two years time the place had increased
to 200 houses.
The first Chief, who appears to have established his authority over the
whole of the Beniyas tribe, was Zheab bin Isa who did so by putting to death
his uncle Zaid bin Mahomed Sheikh Zheab was murdered in 1793 by his
cousin Huza bin Zaid and was succeeded by Shakboot. Sheikh Shakboot bin
Zheab held the Chief ship until 1816 , when he was deposed by his son
Mohamed. In 1818 , Mohamed was deposed by his younger brother Tahnoon,
who ruled as Chief until 1833 , when he was murdered by his brothers Khaleefa
and Sultan. Sheikh Khaleefa succeeded and being murdered in 1845 was suc
ceeded by his nephew Syeed bin Tahnoon. Sheikh Syeed bin Tahnoon was
killed in fight by his cousin Sheikh Zaid
bin* Khaleefa who is the present Chief.
• See po»tcript.
He was born about 1836 and has eight sons living.
Sheikh Zaid’s personal influence is great throughout the countryside
and his authority is greater and his position more important than that of* the
other Trucial Chiefs. He receives a salute of 5 guns, none of the other Chiefs
receiving more than 3 guns, and his visit alone is returned by the Besident
He is of a somewhat ambitious and intriguing nature but it cannot be said
that he gives any especial trouble to the Political authorities in the Persian
Gulf. He is a wise and experienced Chief and I have generally found him
amenable to reason.
Our first connection with the Beniyas tribe was in 1820 , when they were
admitted members of the general Treaty concluded with the maritime tribes
in 1820 . The Chief of the Beniyas was a subscriber to the Perpetual Treaty
of Peace of 1853 . In 1847 he entered into an engagement in common with
the other Trucial Chiefs, having for its object the abolition of the African
Slave trade. In 1892 , Sheikh Zaid bin Khaleefa became a party to the Agree
ment by which the Irucial Chiefs engaged on no account to correspond with
or make Agreements with other Powers, to receive no Agent of any other
Government and on no account to cede, mortgage or otherwise give for occupa
tion any part of their territories save to the British Government.
About this item
- Content
This part contains papers mostly relating to British interests in Persia [Iran] and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
It includes a copy of the Board of Trade Commercial Intelligence Committee ‘Report received from Mr. H. W. Maclean, the Special Commissioner appointed by the Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade, on the conditions and prospects of British trade in Persia.’
A handwritten note at the front of the file, on folio 5, states ‘Spare copy of notes & correspondence of the “Helmand Control” file (with maps)’. Folio 110 consists of handwritten notes, including one dated 27 April 1904, which states ‘The secret Helmand papers have been printed up, and a set, with necessary maps, is submitted for H.E. the Viceroy to take to England.’ Much of the file concerns the question of controlling the water of the Helmand river and irrigating its whole delta, and the work of the Seistan Arbitration Commission to arbitrate between Persia and Afghanistan on the question of rights to the water of the Helmand in Seistan.
The file also includes reports by W A Johns on reconnaissances of potential railway routes made while he was attached to the Seistan Arbitration Commission, and other papers relating to railways and roads in Persia.
In addition, the file includes copies of the following Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, which reproduce received Foreign Department correspondence on the following subjects: ‘Selection of a British naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .’, November 1901, Nos. 74-83; ‘Visit of His Excellency the Viceroy to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. during November-December 1903.’, February 1904, Nos. 33-127; ‘Establishment of telegraphic communication with Henjam. Question of the selection of a naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Aggressive action of the Persians at Tamb and Abu Musa; their claim to the Islands.’, June 1904, Nos. 300-388; ‘Reports of the Commercial Mission to Persia.’, June 1905, Nos. 45-111; ‘Question of retaining flagstaffs erected in the neighbourhood of the Musandim Promontory’, August 1905, Nos. 288-307.’
The file also includes: brief handwritten notes written by Curzon on headed paper belonging to the Viceregal Lodge, Simla, relating to Seistan and to Lord Kitchener’s planned reforms for the reorganisation and redistribution of the Indian Army; and a printed copy of the report ‘A Note by Major H.L. [Herbert Lionel] Showers, C.I.E., on the present state of affairs in Kelat and a review of the system of Administration now being pursued.’
The file includes four maps: ‘Map of the Tail waters of Helmand River’ (13 July 1903), f 122; ‘Plan Shewing Proposed Routes for a Railway from Nushki to Afghan Frontier near Robat’ (10 April 1903), f 139; ‘Extract from Admiralty Chart No. 753. (Entrance to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ).’ (October 1901), f 219; and ‘Sketch of route Ram Hormuz to Fellahieh.’ (April 1904), f 230.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (475 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in no apparent order, apart from the Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, folios 231 to 474, which are arranged in chronological order.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/359/1
- Title
- ‘Persia – especially Seistan’
- Pages
- front, 2r:194v, 195v:196r, 197v:199v, 200v, 201v, 203r:272r, 273v:275v, 277r:405v, 408r:408v, 409v, 411r:413v, 414v:419v, 420v:424v, 425v:432v, 433v:435v, 436v, 437v:443v, 444v:471v, 473r:475v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence