Aden Affairs
- Holding institution:
- British Library. India Office Records and Private Papers
- Data provider:
- Qatar National Library
- Title:
- Aden Affairs
- Date:
- 1846/1846
- Description:
- Abstract: This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 101 of 1846, dated 27 August 1846. The enclosures are dated 30 July-27 August 1846.The papers chiefly relate to reports of an impending attack on Aden by a force led by ‘a fanatic named Sayud Ismail [Sayyid Ismā‘īl, also spelled Syud in this item] who having made his way from Mecca to this vicinity by slow marches, accompanied by a number of Dervises [dervishes] and other religious Zealots, has loudly proclaimed his determination to dislodge the “Feringhees” [foreigners] from the “strong hold” of the Moslem’ (f 146), and notably cover and include the following:A report by Stafford Bettesworth Haines, Political Agent at Aden, to the Government in Bombay, of intelligence received regarding the progress of Sayud Ismail and his followers towards Aden between 1-15 August, including: Sayd Ismail’s apparent meetings with the local ‘chiefs’ gathering additional followers from various tribes; the support of a son of Sultan M Houssain of Lahidge [Sultan Muḥsin bin Faḍl al-‘Abdalī, Sultan of Lahej] in the ‘Holy cause’; the influence of Sayud Ismail and his reputation for possessing ‘superhuman’ (f 147) powers of conquest, causing 1200-1400 inhabitants of Aden to leave the town in anticipation of the defeat of the EnglishCopies of Haines’s instructions to Lieutenant-Colonel H R Milner, Commanding the troops at Aden, and Lieutenant-Colonel W C Barker, Senior Naval Officer, regarding arrangements to repel any act of aggression, including: prevention of arms entering Aden via the defensive wall; assessment of the military force and ammunition at Aden; searching of all boats entering Aden harbour; and surveillance of the numbers entering daily through the town gates (ff 149-151)Minute of the Governor and President in Council, Bombay, concurred in by members in Council, regarding measures to be taken in response to the information received about a potential attack on AdenInstructions issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay, to the Military Board, the Superintendent of the Indian Navy and the Deputy Quartermaster-General of the Army, Bombay, regarding: arrangements to supply to Aden any deficiencies of military stores and salt by the ship Seminarisor another vessel; a return of all troops and armaments at Aden (f 166); information regarding which vessels can be immediately sent or be got ready to sail to Aden, including those proceeding for the Persian Gulf; termination of the pensions (or stipends) of any ‘chiefs’ who may have joined Sayud Ismail; and agreement that no force need be despatched at this stage to Aden.Physical description: 1 item (31 folios)
- Language:
- English
- Type:
- Archival item
- Type (Narrower):
- Other Texts
- Type (Broader):
- Text
- Subject:
- Security measures
Defence
Sultan of Lahej - Geographic region:
- Aden
Yemen - Rights:
- رخصة حكومة مفتوحة
- Identifier:
- 81055/vdc_100154581908.0x000008_ar
81055/vdc_100154581908.0x000008_en
IOR/L/PS/5/445, ff 139-169
IOR/L/PS/5/445, ff 139-169