Qatar and the Gulf States in the Indian Archives (Delhi Archives) Vol. 5

We are pleased to present Volume Five of the project “Qatar and the Arab Gulf States in the Records of the Indian Archives: Selections from the National Archives of India in Delhi.” This volume contains translated documents relating to Qatar and the Arab Gulf states and their relations with various international, regional, and local powers during the period 1887–1888, as recorded in the reports of the British Government and the Government of British India.

The documents include correspondence and telegrams exchanged between political residents and agents, commanders of vessels of the Indian Navy, and their superiors in the India Office and the British Foreign Office in London, in addition to letters from local rulers and merchants of the region. Their contents shed light on aspects of daily conditions, reactions, and interactions with the events and developments of the time—particularly since some of the individuals involved either participated directly in these events or were eyewitnesses to them.

Accordingly, the documents address a wide range of topics, including political, military, economic, and social issues, among others.
The documents in this volume are arranged in strict chronological order, covering the historical events and developments of the period under study. Foremost among these are hostile naval operations along the coasts of Qatar and the Gulf, as well as the circumstances of certain Qatari tribes, reports concerning Indian merchants and their interests in Qatar, and the position of the Ottoman authorities regarding their presence and activities in the region.