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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [282v] (563/949)
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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
To His Excellency the Right Hon’ble George Nathaniel Baron
Curzon of Kedleston, M-A., P.C., G.M.S.Io Viceroy
and Governor-General of India.
Mat it please Yotjr Excellency,
We the undersigned British Indian Merchants, residing at Bahrein, have
pleasure in taking advantage of Your Lordship’s visit to these Pearl Islands of
the Gulf, to extend to you a most hearty welcome in the name of our Com
munity.
We hope you have had a pleasant passage on your way up the Gulf, that
your short stay here will be agreeable to Your Lordship, and that your return
voyage will be accomplished in safety and comfort. We consider ourselves
especially fortunate in having this opportunity of meeting Your Excellency,
as the Gulf was never honoured with a visit from a Viceroy of India, and as we
know that Your Lordship takes keen interest in questions affecting the Persian
Gulf and the East in General, we sincerely hope and trust that this visit will
be an harbinger of prosperity, felicity, and peace in the Gulf.
We beg to acknowledge the manifold blessings we have derived from the
just and kind British rule. May it be known to Your Lordship that we came
up to the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
about two hundred years ago, when no steamers visited
the Gulf, and all business had to be done by means of sailing boats under very
trying and disadvantageous circumstances. But now the times are changed
and' British Protection has brought with it its usual blessings—peace, safety,
and prosperity—which reflect great credit on the British enterprise and civili
zation in the Gulf.
We have no desire on this occasion to trespass unduly on Your Excellency’s
precious time, but humbly venture to lay before you one or tw 7 o questions of
vital importance and considerable interest to Bahrein trade. This port is
naturally placed in a very favourable situation for trade and is a commercial
centre for A 1 Hassa, Ojaar, Katif, Katr, and their hinterlands; and to
accelerate the trade of this port a pier at Manama is absolutely necessary to
enable lighters to ply at all times and tides to give the steamers a speedy
despatch. We most respectfully beg to put this want before your kind
consideration.
In 1864 we opened trade relations with Katif and did large business there.
We generally command respect and enjoy some prestige in the Gulf, but
through misgovernment at Katif, we were not only ignored but we sustained
heavy losses and were exposed to insults. In 1895 one of us was attacked by
pirates, and his right hand w r as severed and pearls worth Rs. 40,000 were
plundered from him. Our unprotected condition placed us at a great dis
advantage there, and we had finally to retire from Katif. Since Bahrein
enjoyed unexceptional tranquillity and great advantages for trade, both Arab
and Persian traders have come and settled down here. The keen competition
now prevailing here, has made it necessary for us to seek new fields and we
are anxious to share in the growing trade of Katif and Katr, and pray Your
Excellency to appoint officers at those unrepresented ports, or if it be impracti
cable to extend the authority of the Bahrein Political
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
over them.
In conclusion, we offer our prayers to the Almighty to bless and prolong
the life of His Most Gracious Majesty the King-Emperor, under whose benign
rule we are able to live here in peace and contentment, and we sincerely wish
Your Lordship a happy sojourn, prosperous career and long life.
We have the honour to be,
Your Excellency,
Your most obedient Servants,
On behalf of our Community,
TOOLSIDAS PERSRAM.
OCOKAMAL PITAMBERDAS.
TOOLSIDAS SWAMIDAS.
METHARAM CHANDOOMAL.
TEKCHAND DWARKADAS.
Bahrein, 2 nd November 1903 .
VERSIMAL EH ELL ARAM.
GANGARAM TIKAMDAS & CO.
LAKHMIDAS THAVERDAS & CO.
RATANCHAND SHEVAKRAM & CO.
PERSRAM DAMODERDAS & CO.
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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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [282v] (563/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x0000a4> [accessed 28 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- 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