Abstract: Enclosure nos. 2-41 to a despatch from the Secret Department, Government of Bombay [Mumbai], dated 30 November 1844. The enclosures are dated 27 August-27 November 1844.The enclosures consist of copies of correspondence relating to affairs in Aden and East Africa, including:Reports that an army led by the Imam of Sana [Sana’a] is marching in the direction of Aden, with the apparent intention of attacking Lahidge [Lahej], and has reached as far as Ereem [Yarim], but has been halted by news of the usurpation of Sana by the Imam’s uncleReports that the Sultan of Ourlghee [Aulaqi] also intends to attack Lahidge, but requires permission from the Sultan of Fouthelee [Fadhli] to march through his territoryA request from M Houssain Fudthel [Sultan Muḥsin bin Faḍl al-‘Abdalī], Sultan of Lahedge, for shot and powder to aid in his defenceThe high rate of illness among the troops at Aden, a request for the worst cases to be invalided out, and the need for reinforcementsReports of a massacre and mass enslavement committed by the King of Shoa [Shewa]Payment of a grant to the Assistant Political Agent, Aden, to cover his expenses from his tour of the coast of East AfricaThe need of extensive repairs to, or replacement of, the building currently housing the Political Agent’s office and the Agency Treasury.The primary correspondents are: the Political Agent, Aden; Lieutenant-Colonel William Croker, commanding the troops at Aden; the Sultan of Lahedge; the Superintendent of the Indian Navy; the Quartermaster-General, Bombay; and the Government of India.Physical description: 1 item (85 folios)
Abstract: Enclosures no. 2-10 to a despatch from the Secret Department, Bombay [Mumbai] Castle, dated 2 March 1848. The enclosures are dated 18 January-1 March 1848. The enclosures consist of copies of correspondence relating to affairs in Aden and reports received there of events elsewhere, including:Reported hostilities between the Imam of Sana [Sana’a] and Hussain ibn Ali Hyder, Sheriffe [Sharif] of Mocha, and a request from the Imam for a British ship to be sent to protect Hodeida [Al Hudaydah]A report of the death of Sallah Selassie, King of Shoa [Sahle Selassie, Negus of Shewa], and bloodshed in Shoa over the successionA reported dispute between the Egyptian Governor of Mussowah [Massawa] and the French ConsulA visit to Berbera by the Assistant Political Agent at Aden, with the hopes of improving relations with and between the Aial Ahmed and Aial Unus [Reer Ahmed Nur and Reer Yunis Nur, sub-clans of the Habr Awwal]The arrival in Aden of Henry Hardinge, Viscount Hardinge, on his return trip to the UK after having served as Governor-General of India.The primary correspondent is the Political Agent, Aden.Physical description: 1 item (16 folios)
Abstract: This item consists of copies of correspondence, and minutes cited in, or enclosed with, political letters from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai]. The main correspondents are: the Government of Bombay; Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, British Political Agent at Aden; Lieutenant Charles Cruttenden, Assistant Political Agent at Aden. It is the second in a series of five items concerning Aden (the others are IOR/F/4/2100/98226, 98228, 98229, and 98230).The item concerns British fears that the large force Sherriffe Hussain ibn Ali Hyder [Sharif Hussain bin 'Ali Haydar, Governor of Mocha] has collected at Mocha will be used to attack Aden.The majority of the item is made up of the report of Lieutenant Charles Cruttenden of his tour of the Horn of Africa, including a description of:The state of affairs at Shoa [Shewa]Zeyla [Saylac], which is experiencing civil unrestBerbera, where contentious fortifications are under constructionBurnt Island [Maydh Island]The state of the wreck of the
Memnonoff Cape Guardafui, which had its copper removed and sold contrary to British injunctionsMaculla [Al Mukalla], where he inquired into a complaint by a Banian merchant that his house had been plundered.The item includes a contents page and the title page of the item contains the following references: ‘Draft 683, P.C. [Previous Communication] 4878, [Season 18]45’, ‘Vol: 2’, ‘Collection No 7 of No 10’.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with f 216 and terminates at f 237, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the item also contains an original pagination sequence.
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 51 of 1841, dated 18 June 1841. The enclosures are dated 14 May to 18 June 1841, and mainly consist of correspondence, regarding the mission to the King of Shoa [Shewa] under Captain William Cornwallis Harris.The main correspondents are as follows: the Secretary to the Government of Bombay, John Pollard Willoughby; Captain Harris; and the Political Agent at Aden, Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines.The correspondence discusses matters including: arrangements for the mission, including the views of the Government of India on the selection of Captain Harris as head of the mission, and of the selection of other members of the mission, and the expenses of the mission; the pay and allowances of Captain Harris and the other officers of the mission; the intended departure from Aden to Tadjoura of the mission; the Governor of Bombay’s disapproval at Haines attaching Lieutenant Barker of the Indian Navy, and Dr Impey, to the mission without his sanction; the arrival at Aden of Captain Harris; news of the arrival of the mission at Tadjoura [Tadjourah], and the reception it met with; and the Political Agent at Aden being authorised to draw bills on the General Treasury at Bombay for the supply of his Treasury during the monsoon.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-7, on folio 40. These numbers are repeated for reference on the last verso of each enclosure.
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 115 of 1842, dated 15 October 1842. The enclosures are dated 4 July to 14 October 1842, and relate to the mission to Shoa [Shewa].The enclosures consist of: dispatches from Captain William Cornwallis Harris, on a special mission at the Court of Shoa, to John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government of Bombay; and a letter from Willoughby to Thomas Herbert Maddock, Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General.The enclosures contain the following: reports by Harris on the proceedings of the mission under his charge; a report by Harris on the state of slavery and the 'slave trade' [trade in enslaved people] within and beyond Abyssinia [the Ethiopian Empire], which includes a sketch map entitled ‘Sketch delineative of the ROUTES OF SLAVE-CARAVANS through Abyssinia to the shores of ARABIA.’ (folio 517); distribution lists of presents; and correspondence regarding the expedience of the continuance of the mission for a longer period.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-8, on folios 389-391. These numbers are repeated for reference on the last verso of each enclosure.
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of Enclosures to a Despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 30 of 1841, dated 27 April 1841. The enclosures are dated 25 February to 28 April 1841, and relate to a British Mission to the King of Shoa [Shewa].The enclosures mostly consist of copies of letters sent and received by the Government of Bombay. The most frequent correspondent is Captain William Cornwallis Harris, Head of the British Mission to Shoa. The enclosures also include: letters to the Superintendent of the Indian Navy, the General Pay Master, the Military Board, and the Secretary to the Government of India; letters from the Political Agent at Aden; and memoranda by the Political Secretary to the Government of Bombay.The enclosures include correspondence regarding: Lieutenant Sydney Lloyd Horton offering his services to accompany the Mission, the acceptance of the offer of his services by the Government of Bombay, and his pay and allowances on the Mission; the proposal of Johannes Rudolf Roth and Johann Martin Bernatz, two German Professors, to accompany the Mission (Roth as a naturalist, and Bernatz as a draftsman and artist), and their claim for compensation from the Government of India for the cost of the articles and instruments they brought out with them for the Mission; the transport of packages belonging to the Mission on board the ship
Auckland, to be landed at Aden; the accommodation of Captain Harris and others proceeding with him on special duty to Aden on board the
Auckland.The enclosures also include: lists of presents for the King of Shoa, and a copy of a bill for these presents; and copies of two sketch maps of Shoa from the missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-47, on folios 641-649. These numbers are repeated for reference on the last verso of each enclosure.
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 92 of 1840, dated 31 October 1840. The enclosures are numbered 3-42 and are dated 1 September to 27 October 1840. They mostly consist of correspondence relating to Aden affairs.The enclosures concern matters including:The Political Agent at Aden, Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, reporting the arrival at Aden of the Honourable Company’s sloop of war
Elphinstone, brig
Euphrates, and steamer
Victoriacarrying the mail, and forwarding the reports of the Commanders of the
Elphinstoneand the
Euphratesto the Government of BombayThe proposed appointment by Haines of Mr Hatchatoor as Agent at TadjouraThe amount of reward to be paid to the Commander, Captain Warden, and crew of the barque
Arielfor assistance provided at Aden over several days in November and December 1839, and the Political Agent at Aden paying Warden 200 German Crowns on account of the two brass guns which he suppliedThe approbation of the Government of India of the ‘gallantry’ with which the attack on Aden by ‘a large body of Arabs’ on 5 July 1840 was repulsedHaines reporting that he has ordered the
Elphinstoneto return to Aden for subsequent despatch to the Persian Gulf, and the Government of Bombay referring him to previous instructions for the detention of the
Elphinstoneat Mocha during the ‘present settled state of affairs’, for the protection of British interests in that areaThe crediting of money raised from the sale of goods recovered from the barque
Duria Dowlut, which was wrecked at Aden in 1837, to the Government of MadrasThe political state of affairs in the neighbourhood of AdenMeasures taken by the Political Agent at Aden to counteract attempts to establish French influence on the eastern coast of AfricaOvertures from the King of Shoa [Shewa] to establish friendly relations with the British Government, and the question of whether or not it would be advisable to send a British mission to ShoaHaines’s opinion on the strength and description of the force required to proceed into the interior from AdenThe Government of Bombay informing the Government of India that it is impossible at present for it equip a force of the strength and description considered necessary by the British authorities at Aden, for an attack on Lahedge [Lahej].The correspondence is mainly between Haines and the Government of Bombay, and between the Government of Bombay and the Officiating Secretary to the Government of India.Other correspondents include: Captain Sanders, Commander of the Honourable Company’s sloop of war
Cliveand Senior Naval Officer at Aden; Lieutenant Richard Ethersey, Commander of the
Elphinstone; Lieutenant W Barker, Commander of the
Euphrates; the King of Shoa; and Reverend F L Karff.The enclosures also include copies of commercial treaties entered into, in September 1840, between the East India Company and the following: the Governor of Zeyla [Zeila], Syed Mahomed bar [Sayyid Muḥammad Barr]; and the Governor of Mocha, Sherriff Hussein bin ali bin Hydar al Hassenee [Sharīf Ḥusayn bin 'Alī bin Ḥaydar].Physical description: 1 item (106 folios)
Abstract: A survey of the East Coast of Africa by Captain Thomas Smee and Lieutenant Henry Hardy in the East India Company cruisers the
Ternateand the
Sylph(1810-1811).Folios 23-142 contain a report of proceedings on board the
Ternate, 1 January-25 September 1811. The report contains:The daily entries for the voyage from Bombay [Mumbai] to Duraja [Darsah] (15 January 1811), Abdel Curia [Abd al-Kuri] (16 January 1811), Cape Guardafui (18 January 1811), Cape Bassas (29 January 1811), Magadosha [Mogadishu] (2 February 1811), Brava [Baraawe] (3 February 1811), Juba [Jubba] (4 February 1811), Island of Keewyaoo [Kiwayu] (6 February 1811), Island of Patté [Paté] (7 February 1811), Formosa Bay [Ungwana Bay] (15 February 1811), Mombass [Mombasa] (18 February 1811), Island of Pemba (21 February 1811) and Zanzibar (23 February 1811)The daily entries for the voyage from Zanzibar to Tumbat Island [Tumbatu Island] (10 April 1811), Kewyoo Island [Kiwayu Island] (11 April 1811), Cape d'Orfici (21 April 1811), Cape Felix (22 April 1811), Bird Island (24 April 1811), Babelmandel [Bab-el-Mandeb] (26 April 1811) and Mocha (27 April 1811)The daily entries for the voyage from Mocha to Cape Israel (17 May 1811), Gedam Island (19 May 1811) and Judda [Jeddah] (27 May 1811)The daily entries for the voyage from Judda to Sabaya Islands [Jabal al-Sabaya] (8 August 1811), Mocha (10 August 1811), Babelmandel (29 August 1811), Mette Island (1 September 1811), Bird Island (6 September 1811) and arrival at Surat (23 September 1811) (ff 23-142).Smee describes the Island of Patté as being in a 'very troubled state' owing to the rival claims of two cousins to the 'Sooltanship', with the younger claimant 'Sooltan Ahmed [Sultan Ahmad bin Shaykh al-Nabhani]' having the support of the stronger faction, and keeping his elder cousin confined to a 'small mud fort near the Town'. Smee provides a detailed report of his reception, negotiations, and eventual escape from Paté (ff 55-67). He also provides detailed accounts of his meetings with the 'Hakeem' [Hakim] of Zanzibar, 'Yacood' [i.e. Yaqut bin Ambar al-Habashi], whom Smee describes as being a 'Eunuch Slave of the Imaum of Muscat [i.e. Sulṭān Sa‘īd II bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd] born in Amhara, a Province of Abyssinia' (ff 81-92), which is followed by a 'Description of the Island of Zanzibar or Zingebaur as it is called by the Natives' (ff 99-110). The latter includes a description of the slave market together with moral arguments against slavery (ff 103-105). Smee was later received by the Dola [Dawla] of Mocha, who informed him that the 'Imaum' of Senna [i.e. Imam of San‘a’, Al-Mutawakkil ala ‘Allah Ahmad bin ‘Ali al-Qāsimī], had taken the field against Wahabee [the Wahhabi], and marched towards the rebel states of Hodeida [Hudayda] Lopeia [Luhayya] and Bettefackie [Bayt al-Faqih], and he wished the cruiser to remain for the protection of Mocha Roads. Smee had to decline the Dawla's request, however, as it would impede his delivery of dispatches to the Viceroy of Egypt [Kavalali Muhammad ‘Ali Pasha] and his planned voyage to Jeddah (ff 122-23 and f 160). He continued his voyage and subsequently met the Sharif of Mecca [Ghālib bin Musā’id al-Hāshimī], and 'Arabee Jellanee' [‘Arabi Jilani], the principal merchant at Jeddah, to whom he entrusted the Governor's letters for the Viceroy of Egypt and the 'Commanding Officer of the Turkish Forces' [i.e. Tusun Pasha] (ff 127-28).Folios 163-211 contain a report by Lieutenant Hardy, including:A description of the coast of Africa from Cape Guardafui to Magadixa [Mogadishu], Marca [Merca], Brava and Zanzibar, and the return voyage of the Company's Brig
Sylphto Chaul (12 October 1811)An extract from the log refuting James Bruce's hypothesis about the monsoon on the east coast of AfricaAn account of different rivers on the coast from Zualiffe towards Mozambique (ff 188-99)The Glossaries of Swahili and "Galla" [Oromo] vocabularies compiled by Lieutenant Hardy (ff 199-206)The minutes of the Government-in-Council on the actions taken, and the information collected by Captain Smee and Lieutenant Hardy during the survey, including an application from Smee for financial compensation (ff 207-11).Hardy describes the arrival of the brother-in-law of the 'King of Johanna' [Sultan Alawi bin Husayn Mwinye Fani] at Zanzibar in 'great distress for Provisions and Clothes'. The party had earlier departed from Johanna [Anjouan] with 'some Portuguese Prisoners' for Mozambique, and included 'five Gentlemen [,] one Captain and 12 Sailors, besides thirty two Slaves most of them femini [sic] ones, which they said were a present from the Governor of Mozambique [António Manuel de Melo e Castro de Mendonça] to the King of Johanna'. Hardy was later approached by the Vizier of the deposed Sultan of Paté to help 'enable him to repair his boat, she having run on shore in bad weather whilst attempting to get to Mombass to secure his property' (ff 166-67).The volume also includes:A letter from Captain Thomas Smee, Commander of the
Ternate, to W J Hamilton, Secretary to the Government and the Marine Department, 23 December 1810, requesting that the
Sylphaccompany the
Ternatein exploring the coast of Africa, and for the latter to be allowed to transport 1000 Rupees' worth of presents for the 'natives necessity' (ff 3-4)A letter from Deputy Secretary James Farish to Captain Smee, 31 December 1810, containing sailing instructions for the exploration of the African coast from 'Cape Gardafui to the Southward, as far as may be found compatible with the season of the year', with particular attention to the Somali Coast from Cape Gardafui [Guardafui] to Brava [Baraawe], and proceeding to the Island of Paté, 'a civilized and mercantile resort' to meet the Prince [i.e. Sultan]. Farish requested Smee to 'endeavor to learn which of the Rivers, that reach the sea on that [East African] coast may be with most probability conjectured to give passage to the waters of the Niger'. He further instructed Smee to continue sailing southwards from Paté 'as far as the Island of Zanzibar, in which, as belonging to our ally the Imaum of Muscat, you may rely on a friendly reception'. Smee was directed to collect as much information as possible about the southern branch of the Nile, the Muslim Principality of Hurhur [Harar], the Christian states of Yafat/Ifat and Shoa, and the 'great in-land Cities (under Mussulman Princes) of Tombuctoo [Timbuktu], Hoolsaye [Hawsa] and Cashna [Katsina]' (ff 4-13)An extract of a letter from Captain David Seton, 21 September 1801, on his failure to obtain any information about Housay [Hawsa] and Tumbuctoo and providing certain details about Burrava [Baraawe], the southern branch of the Nile [i.e. the White Nile], Melinda [Malindi] and the trade in slaves, silk and cotton on the east coast of Africa (ff 13-14)An extract from a memoir by Ibrahim Pirkar, 21 September 1800, about the port of Burbureea [Berbera] and its trade with the ports located along the Gulph of Kutch, Muskat [Muscat], Mocha, Mukulla [Mukalla] and Judda [Jeddah], the dearth of information about Tumbuctoo and Kassinan [Katsina Emirate], and the death of an Englishman reported by the merchant Hajee Mohummud [Haji Muhammad al-Habashi] of Abyssinia [Ethiopia] (ff 14-15)The translation of a report from Ibrahim Purkar to Governor of Bombay Jonathan Duncan, 26 February 1809 about Burbureea, Mocha, Yuf’at [Ifat], Gondur [Gondar], Goojam [Gojjam], Begamdur [Begemder], Lasna [Lasta] and Madramra (ff 15-17)A description of the rivers of Jenne [Djenné] called Zambexe [Zambezi], from the Island of Mozambique to Quilimane [Quelimane], Luabo, Tete, Lupatia [Lupata], Kingdom of Tanbard, Massangane, Tipui, Chicooa [Chicora], Zumbo and Manica (ff 17-21)A list of different tribes composing the cargo of slaves taken by the East India Company ship
Sir Edward Hughes. The list includes the names of seventeen different tribes (ff 21-22)A receipt from the Sultan of Paté, Ahmad bin Shaykh al-Nabhani, listing the articles received from the
Ternateand dated at Paté Harbour, 10 February 1811, with an additional note from Captain Smee, complaining that they had been 'extorted' from him by the Sultan (ff 142-43)A letter from Lieutenant Hardy to Captain Smee, dated 25 February 1811, informing him of the 'many bad and dangerous qualities' of the
Sylphas a Schooner, and suggesting that it be 'rigged as a Brig' (ff. 143-48)A committee held by Captain Smee, Lieutenant Hardy, Lieutenant James Arthur, and Assistant Surgeon George Wigham at Zanzibar Harbour on 1 April 1811 to consider the contents of a letter received from the 'Nacqudahs' [i.e. Nakhudas or Captains] of 'three vessels belonging to the Port of Surat, and one to Bownagur [Bhavnagar] setting forth the ill treatment they are subject to from the Hakeem of Zanzibar and ‘soliciting on the part of their several owners, the services of the Hon:ble Company's Brig
Sylphthat she may 'remain with them and afford a security to them’ (ff 148-51)'A Comprehensive List of Dialects, in use on the Coast of East Africa', compiled by Captain Smee on the basis of information provided by the merchants Mahomed Abdelriuman Ben Omar Seomary [Muhammad Abd al-Rahman bin Omar al-Sumari] (Somali and 'Galla' [Oromo]); Syed Moother Ben Syed Aboo Booker of Baraawe [Sayyid Mudhar bin Sayyid Abu Bakr al-Barawi] (Somali and 'Galla' [Oromo]); and Mahomed Ben Caliph of Zanzibar [Muhammad bin Khalifa al-Zinjibari] (Swahili) (ff 151-56, and f 87 and f 89)The exchanges of letters between Captain Smee and the British Agent in the Gulf of Arabia, Captain Henry Rudland, to: arrange for the treatment of sick crew members on board the
Ternate; convince the 'Commandant' of Hudaydah, Hadjee Jewah Hussan [Haji Jawa Hasan] to release the ship
Rahmanee[Rahmani] commanded by Nacooda Hadjee Hamood of Tellicherry [Nakhuda Haji Hammud Thalasiri]; convey a letter from the Governor of Bombay to the Viceroy of Egypt tactfully refusing the latter's request to furnish two warships for the war being waged against the Wahaby [Wahhabi]; and assess the suitability of the dhows
Salamed Passand[Salamat Pasand] and
Hamdee[Hamdi] for the transportation of 1000 bales of coffee from Mocha to Bombay on behalf of the East India Company (ff 156-62).Physical description: The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 211; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-211; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.