Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 104 of 1848, dated 2 December 1848. The enclosures are numbered 3-16 and are dated 1 August to 18 November 1848. They consist of correspondence, and minutes by the Governor of Bombay, concerning potential hostilities between the Imam of Muscat and the Shah of Persia [Iran], in relation to previous 'aggressions' and potential further actions by the Governor of Kerman against Bunder Abbas [Bandar Abbas] and the districts in its vicinity leased by the Imam of Muscat. The enclosures also discuss Persian 'intrigues' in relation to Bahrein [Bahrain], including the Persian Consul at Baghdad, Hajee [Haji] Mirza Jabbar, opening correspondence with the ex-Chief [Hakim] of Bahrein, Abdullah ibn Ahmed [Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmad Al Khalifah; variant spellings of his name used in this item].The main correspondents are as follows: the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay (Arthur Malet); HM Consul and HC [Honourable Company's] Agent in the Dominions of the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat (Captain Atkins Hamerton); the Resident in the Persian Gulf (Major Samuel Hennell); HM Chargé d'Affaires at Tehran (Lieutenant Colonel Farrant); and the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia (Major Henry Creswicke Rawlinson).Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatches, numbered 1-16, on folios 376-399. These numbers are repeated for reference on the verso of the last folio 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 42 of 1854, dated 20 July 1854. The enclosures are numbered 3-7 and are dated 10 May to 23 June 1854.The enclosures contain correspondence from HM Chargé d’Affaires, Tehran, to the Earl of Clarendon concerning Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbas]. Also included are the following: translations of two letters from the Agent at Muscat, reporting on the arrival of His Highness the Imam; copies of letters from the Resident in the Persian Gulf to HM Mission at the Court of Persia [Iran].Physical description: 1 item (79 folios)
Abstract: The file consists of correspondence sent to and from the Bushire Residency; the principal correspondents being Samuel Hennell, Resident in the Persian Gulf, and Justin Sheil, HM Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary at the Court of Persia. The main subject covered is therefore the internal political affairs of southern Persia, and its internal power struggles.Other subjects covered includes a couple of reported incidents of piracy, a struggle over the control of Bahrain among members of the Āl Khalīfah family, and incidents affecting trade in the Gulf. The operations of the Persian Gulf Squadron of the Indian Navy are also briefly covered.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the cover and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: An original pagination sequence in ink is present in the file between ff 3-69.
Abstract: The file contains Secret and Political correspondence sent inwards and outwards from the British Residency in the Persian Gulf; the file primarily represents communications between the Resident, and the Secret and Political Department of the Bombay Government.It covers diplomatic relations with Persia, which includes British naval measures to prevent the importation of slaves; reports on Persian fortification work on the island of Khārk, Jazīreh-ye; British proposals to occupy Khārk, Jazīreh-ye; Shaikh Houssein Nasir's failed attempt to restore himself to the position of Governor of Bushire in 1853; along with the withdrawal of the British Envoy, Charles Augustus Murray, from Tehran at the end of 1855, and the suspension of diplomatic relations.Bahrain is also a subject of much of the correspondence, the principle topic being the reconciliation mediated by the Resident between Shaikh Muḥammed bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah, Chief of Bahrain, and Shaikh Mahomed bin Abdullah, Chief of Demaun in 1855. Followed by British efforts to prevent the Al Ali tribe from relocating to the Arabian Coast, and settling in the region of Demaun [Ad-Dammān] that same year; the Al Ali tribe was viewed as a threat by the rulers of Bahrain.Also included in the file is correspondence relating to the replacement of the Treaty of Maritime Truce 1843 with the Perpetual Treaty of Maritime Peace 1853, which was signed between Britain and the Shaikhs of the Arabian Peninsula. This includes the Resident's resolution of a crisis caused by a discrepancy in the English and Arabic expiry dates of the 1843 treaty, which had meant that not all parties were working to the same timetable. In relation to this topic, the issues Shaikh Sulṭān bin Saqr has with a ruling of the East India Company Court of Directors — indicating that compensation payments for violations of the Maritime Truce should be paid directly to injured parties without reference to their ruler — are also covered.A dispute between Syed Saeed [Sa‘īd bin Sultān Āl Sa‘īd], the Imam of Muscat, and Tahmesp Meerza, the Prince Governor of Fars Province, over Bandar-e ʻAbbās is another issue discussed in the file; a Persian force marched against the settlement in 1854. The main point of concern being the Imam's desire to recruit assistance from Bahrain, and Basra to support his claim over the town, which the British feared could lead to the disruption of maritime peace in the Persian Gulf.Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The file contains the following foliation corrections; 1, and 1B; 125, and 125A.Pagination: The file has also been paginated; this sequence is written in a combination of blue crayon and ink.
Abstract: This file consists almost entirely of letters written by the Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire, to the Commander of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf, Bassidore [Bāsa‘īdū]. The Resident at this time was Arnold Burrowes Kemball; the Commander of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf during this period was Commodore George Robinson.In addition, this file includes a small number of letters addressed by Kemball to the following East India Company ship commanders: Lieutenant William Balfour, Commander of HC steam frigate
Acbar; Lieutenant David Rose Dakers, Commander of the HC brigantine
Tigris; Captain William Charles Barker, Commander of HC steam frigate
Ajdaha; Captain John William Young, Commander of HC steam frigate
Queen. Some of these letters appear as enclosures to Kemball's letters to Robinson; other letters appear as letters in their own right.Other enclosures within the principal letters include translations of letters received from the following correspondents: Sheikh Sultan ben Suggur [Sulṭān bin Saqr Āl Qāsimī], Chief of Rasul Khymah [Ra's al-Khaymah]; Hajee Yacoob [Hajji Yaqoob], Agent at Shargah [Sharjah]; Moolla Ahmed, Agent at Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh]; Hajee Haji Jassim [Hajji Jasim, also referred to in secondary sources as Hajji Abu'l Qasim]. There are also a small number of enclosed letters which are written by Herbert Frederick Disbrowe, Assistant Resident in the Persian Gulf.Subjects discussed in correspondence include: the movements of East India Company ships within the Gulf; Britain's political relations with Persia; the alleged misappropriation of monies recovered from offenders by Hajee Yacoob, Native Agent at Shargah; relations between rulers along the Arab coast; a siege on Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] by Persian forces; the liberation of slaves imported from Africa into various ports in the Gulf; the shipping of liberated slaves from Bassidore to the Bombay Presidency; hostilities between the Chiefs of Bahrein [Bahrain] and their relatives residing at Demaum [Ad-Dammān]; British responses to acts of piracy.Physical description: Condition: The first five folios of this file have suffered from severe insect damage, which has resulted in some of the text being lost. Some of the folios later on in the file have suffered from water damage, which has made some of the text illegible.Foliation: There is a foliation sequence, which is written in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It should be noted that the following anomalies are present in the sequence: f 1 is followed by f 1A; f 111 is followed by f 111A; f 112 is followed by f 112A. Also present are letters and numbers written in blue crayon, which belong to an internal referencing sequence. The aforementioned foliation sequence is the sequence which has been used by this catalogue to reference items within the file.
Abstract: This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee [Bombay Secret Letter], No. 16 dated 2 February 1856. The enclosures are dated 24 December 1855-12 February 1856.The principal document is a copy of a despatch from Commander James Felix Jones, Indian Navy, Acting Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire [Bushehr], to the Secretary to the Government, Bombay, reporting that a letter from Charles Augustus Murray, HM Envoy in Persia [Iran], indicates that the dispute between the Imam of Muscat and the Persian Government regarding Bunder Abbas [Bandar Abbas] has been settled, and enclosing a translated copy of the terms the Imam has subscribed to.Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 41 of 1856, dated 10 June 1856. The enclosures are dated 10-19 April 1856.The enclosures relate to the differences between the Imaum [Imām] of Muscat and the Persian [Iranian] Government over the Imaum’s claims to the port of Bunder Abbas [Bandar Abbas] on the Persian coast, his threats to descend on Lingah [Bandar Lengeh] and Bushire [Bushehr], and Persian aims to place a garrison on Kishm [Qeshm] and the Island of Ormuz [Hormuz].The papers notably include:A report from the Native Agent at Lingah, to Commander Felix Jones, Acting Resident, Persian Gulf, on a meeting at Kishm between the Imaum’s representatives and a Persian envoy, and Persian attempts to solicit the support of the sheikhs [shaikhs] of Lingah and Rasulkymah [Ra’s al-Khaymah, also spelled Rusul Kheymah in this item] in the event of the Imaum refusing to allow the garrisoning of Kishm and OrmuzA letter from Jones to Sheikh Sultan ben Suggur [Shaikh Sulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī] of Rasulkymah, urging him not to give assistance to Persian vessels and to ignore the expensive gifts from the Shah [Shāh] of Persia.Physical description: 1 item (6 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 45 of 1856, dated 25 June 1856. The enclosures are dated 5 May-19 June 1856.The enclosures chiefly comprise copies of the correspondence of Commander Felix Jones, Acting Resident, Persian Gulf, with Commodore Richard Ethersey, Indian Navy, Commanding the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf, and the Government of Bombay, relating to the removal of the Al Ali [Āl ‘Alī] tribe from Demaum [Dammam].They notably cover and include:Jones’s and Ethersey’s agreement to make a demonstration of naval strength at Demaum with the
Ajdaha,
Semiramisand
Falkland, and if that fails to bombard the town and fort of Demaum, followed if necessary by further coercive measures including the blockading of the port and destruction of any captured Al Ali boatsEthersey’s reservations regarding the agreed measures to be taken at Demaum, due to: the inadequacy of naval resources to carry out the Demaum action in addition to policing the Gulf and searching vessels for enslaved persons; the unsuitability of the
Ajdahafor the shallow seas around Demaum; and the urgent need for the
Semiramisto return to Bombay [Mumbai] for repairsJones’s hope that a brief show of naval strength at Bahrein [Bahrain] and his negotiations with the Sheikh of Demaum [Muḥammad bin ‘Abdullāh, Shaikh of Dammam] will achieve the British objective, his reluctant agreement that the
Semiramisreturn to Bombay before the monsoons set in, and his decision to retain the
Constanceat Bushire [Bushehr] during the temporary withdrawal of the
Ajdahaand
FalklandEthersey’s provision of the
Ajdahafor Jones’s visit to Demaum and tour of the Gulf, due to the inadequate cabin accommodation on his own vessel the
FalklandJones’s report to the Government of Bombay on his proceedings at Bahrein regarding the Al Ali, including: his meetings with Sheikh Mahomed ben Khuleefa [Muḥammad bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah, Shaikh of Bahrain], the Sheikh of Demaum and with Ali ben Sultan [Alī bin Sulṭān], chief of the Al Ali; the agreement of Jones and the Sheikh of Bahrein not to force the Al Ali to return to Geis [Kish, also was known as Kenn] due to its unsuitable living conditions, and proposal that the Al Ali go to Kuweit [Kuwait], Grane [Kuwait] or Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi]; Jones’s encouragement of those Al Ali who wish to reconcile with the Sheikh of Bahrein and return to the island without punishment; Jones’s consent to the Sheikh of Demaum’s request (f 367) to allow the Al Ali to remain at Demaum until the month of Ramadhan [Ramadan] has ended; Ali ben Sultan’s compliance following Jones’s threat to bring the squadron to Demaum; Jones’s pleasure that he has achieved a ‘peaceful resolution’ and relief at the avoidance of a potentially ineffective and expensive blockadeJones’s orders to Ethersey that the
Semiramisshould go to Bombay should any important despatches arrive at Bushire for India.In this item Jones also reports unverified intelligence from the Acting Native Agent at Muscat that the agents of the Imam of Muscat and Persia [Iran] at Kishm [Qeshm] have agreed that the Imam will take possession of Bunder Abbas [Bandar Abbas].Physical description: 1 item (25 folios)
Abstract: This item is comprised of copies of secret letters, despatches and intelligence reports.Correspondence concerning affairs in Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] and information on the arrival of the
Ajdahaat Muscat derived from a letter from the Acting Native Agent at Muskat [Muscat]. Correspondence discusses the resolution of the issue of the lease of Bunder Abbas by the Shah to the Imam of Muskat for an increased rent of 10,000 tomans.Correspondents are the Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Political Agent at Muscat; and HH Syed Saeed, Imam of Muscat [Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd].Physical description: 1 item (9 folios)
Abstract: Topics covered include:The dispute between the Imam of Muscat and the Government of Persia [Iran] concerning Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās]Imports levied on British subjects at Muscat.Correspondents include: Captain Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; H L Anderson, Secretary to Government, Bombay; Sedr Azim [Ṣadr-i Aʿẓam]; Imam of Muscat; Political Agent, Muscat; Mulla Ahmed, Political Agent at Lingah [Bandar-e-Lengeh]; and Commodore George Robinson, Commanding Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf.Physical description: 1 item (19 folios)
Abstract: The volume comprises notes, memoranda, copies of correspondence and other papers, relating to an agreement reached between the British and Persian Governments for the construction of a telegraph cable line between the telegraph station at Henjam [Jazīreh-ye Hengām] and Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās], and a subsequent dispute between the British and Persian Governments over the location of the telegraph office in Bunder Abbas. The volume’s principal correspondents are: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Major Percy Zachariah Cox); the British Ambassador (or Chargé d’Affaires) at Tehran (Sir Arthur Henry Hardinge; Sir Evelyn Mountstuart Grant Duff); the Assistant Resident and British Consul at Bandar-e ʻAbbās (Lieutenant William Henry Irvine Shakespear).The volume’s papers include:proposals, set out by British officials, for a telegraph cable running between Henjam and Bunder Abbas, chiefly for the benefit of the Indian merchant community at the latter place;papers detailing negotiations between British and Persian officials through 1905 concerning the construction of the telegraph cable from Henjam to Bunder Abbas, and the construction and operation of a telegraph office at Bundar Abbas. Much of the discussion centres on the running and costs of the telegraph office at Bundar Abbas, in response to the Persian Government’s insistence that they run the office, and the British Government’s insistence that only Persians be employed in the office (in order to prevent the appointment of Russian telegraphists). A printed copy of the agreement for the construction of the telegraph line from Henjam to Bunder Abbas, dated 13 May 1905, is included in the volume (f 149);copies of telegrams and other papers dated 1906, documenting the construction of telegraph facilities at Bunder Abbas, including British intentions to run the cable via their consular buildings, Persian objection to the proposals, and the protracted dispute over the location of the telegraph office that ensued;correspondence dated 1909, including a letter from Sir George Head Barclay at the British Embassy in Tehran, to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward Grey, dated 8 March 1909, confirming that the dispute between the British and Persian authorities over the location of a telegraph office at Bunder Abbas has been resolved (ff 20-21).Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 237; 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 130-143; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.