"دليل الخليج، الجزء الأول، مواد تاريخية وسياسية، ملخص عن التوسع التركي في الساحل العربي من الخليج الفارسي وشؤون الأحساء والقطيف" [‎٧‎٥] (١٦٤/٩٢)

75
tbrougli tlie Britisli authorities in Turkish Arabia. The result of our representa*
tions was that we at last, obtained a refund of the excess duty paid on all
consignments in for wbicb certificates could be procured, and we were
able to handover Rs. 5,012-9-0 to the British Indian traders at Bahrein, who
had established their claims to our satisfaction. The amount was divided rate-
ably among them, and the sum given in each case was gladly accepted, a receipt *
being obtained from each individual.
281. In August 1900. the Assistant Political Agent, Bahrein, reported that
a*i India* Cornel Interest, at ^ deputation of local Hindu banias had
Katif. Proposal to Appoint the Assistant Poiiti- represented to him, that from time imme-
morial. members of their community had
External a., August 1901, No. 419. carried on a trade with Katif, and that in
later years such obstacles had been thrown
in their way, that for three years they had abandoned visiting the port.
Their grievance was that certain native merchants at Katif, who had seats in
the local Government Council, took advantage of their position and used their
influence with the customs authorities to delay passing the banias' merchandise
for export until after their own had left the port, so as to have the advantage
of being the first to arrive at the market of destination and thereby securing
the higher price.
282. There is a large export trade of boiled dates from Katif to Karachi,
Eaten..! a, a-gurt 1981, no. 419. amounting to about 150,000 bags annually,
besides a lars^e import of rice and other
goods from India via Bahrein. Katif is also the market for pearls procured by
the Koweit pearling fleet.
The banias offered to pay the expenses, if a native agent was appointed by
Government at Katif to look after their interests. Mr. Gaskin finally suggested
that he should visit the Kaitnakam of Katif to arrange matters.
283. In reporting the matter to the Government of India the Political Resi-
external a , ja.u.rj i90x, No. 419. "Jent in the Persian Gulf intimated that he
did not propose to take any official action
and that he had told Mr. Gaskin to let the matter drop.
184. -In 1901, the Consul at Basrah made representations to the Wali of
Secret E., October 1901, N« 8 .340-841. ^ P laCe ' aI1<i the latter Undertook to
send such instructions (through the
Mutessarif of El Hassa) to the Kaimakam of Katif as would remove the
disabilities under which Bahrein banias trading at Katif laboured. The Consul
at the same time suggested that Mr. Gaskin should be made Vice-Consul for
Katif, as there was a doubt whether the Turks would agree to the appointment
of a native agent,
285. No action was talsen by the Government of India, but it was noted in
this department that if it turned out that the Wali's instructions to the Kaima
kam of Katif had been without effect, the Basrah Consul's suggestion would
seem well worthy of consideration.
286. In July 1903, Colonel Kemball stated that he did not put much faith
External A., January 1904, Nos. 8 -4. (Pro. No. in the professions of the Mutessarif of El
3) _ Hasa, and doubted if he had the power
to support the banias against the oppression of their Mahomedan rivals at Katif.
287. Later in August, Mr. Gaskin submitted a report on the question of
External A.. January 1904, Nos. s -4. re-opening trade relation with Katif by
the Hindu traders of Bahrein, and furnish
ed information regarding their former commercial operations and the disabilities
under which they suffered there.
288. In submitting this to the Government of India, Colonel Kemball gave
Extern.-, a., January 1904, No,. 3-4. (Pro. No. 4). it ^ 1118 op™ 011 that a fair case had been
made out for requiring the establishment
of a Consular officer at Katif to look after the interests of the Hindu traders.