Author
an agent.
in Bahrain
Publication Date
23 Feb 1924-4 Nov 1944 (CE, Gregorian)
Publication Place
The high rates of customs duty in India meant that many goods were exported out of Indian ports, only to be smuggled back into the country. A system of landing certificates was used to ensure that goods exported from Indian ports, including Karachi, to th -
Type
Document
Language
English
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Pages Count
498
Library
Qatar Digital Library
Library Asset ID
IOR/R/15/2/1376
Record ID
vdc_100000000282.0x00006f
Library Location
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.
Date
23 Feb 1924-4 Nov 1944 (CE, Gregorian)
Notes
The file comprises correspondence relating to the shipment and transhipment of cargo (chiefly rice, sugar, spices, piece goods) from India (Karachi) to the ports of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, chiefly Dubai, Katar [Qatar, also spelt Gutter, Quatter in the file] and Bahrain. The file is a direct chronological continuation of ‘File 12/7 I Shipping. Arrival of Sailing Crafts at Qatar and other places with Cargo.’ (IOR/R/15/2/1375). The file’s principal correspondents are: the Collector (and Assistant Collector) of Customs at Karachi; staff at the Political
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
in Bahrain; the Director of Customs at Bahrain (Claud Cranbrook Lewis DeGrenier; George William Reginald Smith); the Ruler of Qatar (Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī); the Ruler of Dubai (Shaikh Sa‘id bin Maktūm Āl Maktūm).
The correspondence chiefly concerns routine enquires made about specific vessels travelling from India to the ports of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, and involves the delivery and return of export manifests. The enquiries begin with letters from the Collector (or Assistant Collector) of Customs, or other administrators, at Indian ports (Karachi, Bombay, Veraval) informing the
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 of named vessels travelling to ports in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, with details of their cargo and cargo markings, and requesting confirmation of their arrival and the landing of their cargo. These letters are followed by enquiries made by the
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.
to the Director of Customs at Bahrain (for vessels travelling to Bahrain), the
Residency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
Agent at Sharjah (for vessels travelling to the ports of the
Trucial Coast
A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates.
), and the Ruler of Qatar (for vessels travelling to Qatar), with further correspondence, including replies from the
Residency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
Agent at Sharjah (in English and Arabic) and letters from the Rulers of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ajman, and replies from the Ruler of Qatar. Correspondence is concluded with a letter from the
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, back to the Collector of Customs at Karachi, confirming the arrival (and sometimes non-arrival) of named vessels.
Other papers in the file include:
correspondence in response to an enquiry made by P N Candavarkar, Collector of Customs at Bombay, to 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.
, dated October 1938, relating to the status of the customs administration at the port of Dofar [Dhofar], prompting broader questions, answered by the
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
Residency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
Agent at Sharjah, of how certificates for the landing of cargoes are managed in the ports of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
. This correspondence includes copies of earlier papers, dating from 1924 (ff 95-110);
a copy of an export general manifest, dated 1941 (f 237).
