Abstract: These volumes contain correspondence between the East India Company Factory at Bussorah [Basra] and the Court of Directors of the Company in London, as well as the Bacha of Bagdat [Pasha of Baghdad], the Zand rulers of Persia [Iran], and the British Ambassador at the Porte [Ottoman Empire] from 16 January 1774 to 1 December 1783.Physical description: This file consists of three physical volumes. The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio of volume one with 1 (ff 1-182A), through volume two (ff 183-365A), and terminates at the last folio of volume three (ff 366-549); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.The sequence contains two foliation anomalies: f 182A and f 365A.
Abstract: These three volumes contain correspondence sent to and received from the East India Company Factory at Basra from 17 January 1753 to 17 August 1773. The individual parts are as follows: IOR/G/29/20/1 (17 January 1753-19 April 1765); IOR/G/29/20/2 (20 April 1765-24 August 1766); IOR/G/29/20/3 (2 September 1766-17 August 1773).Physical description: Foliation: This shelfmark consists of three physical volumes. The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio of volume one (ff 1-180), through volume two (ff 181-358) and terminates at the last folio of volume three (ff 359-550); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The item consists of letters discussing an uprising in Bussorah [Basra] and Bagdad [Baghdad] involving the Bani Tamim.The correspondents are Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, Bagdad; I M Dalrymple, Under-Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department, Calcutta [Kolkata]; Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, HM Ambassador at Constantinople [Istanbul]; E Hammond, the Foreign Office, London; the Earl of Clarendon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, London.Physical description: 1 item (10 folios)
Abstract: Home correspondence related to the Company’s affairs in India and the Persian Gulf covering the following:The appointment of Sir John Lindsay as Commander-in-Chief of all the East India Company’s (EIC) ships, frigates and armed vessels in IndiaThe Treaty of Perpetual Friendship and Peace made and concluded between the EIC and the Noble Hyder Ally Caun Bahaudre for the Country of Mysore [Ḥaydar ‘Alī, Sulṭān of Mysore] (ff 136-137)Movements and activities of British shipsThe Company’s affairs in the Gulf of Persia [Iran]The trade in Bussora [Basra]The re-establishment of a British settlement on the coast of Persia.Physical description: 1 item (32 folios)
Abstract: The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes, relating to the Turkish occupation of Zakhnuniyah Island, the Ottoman attitude towards piracy cases, and the appointment of officials in Zubara, Odeid and Wakra.The discussion in the volume relates to the Turkish occupation of a disused fort (built by Shaikh Ali bin Khalifah, Ruler of Bahrain) on Zakhnuniyah Island and the placing of Ottoman officials in Zubara, Odeid and Wakra. Correspondence reflects British concerns over Turkish claims to sovereignty in the coastal area of the Qatar Peninsula and how these could best be resisted, particularly in the strategic context of the construction of the Berlin to Baghdad railway. In discussing Zakhnuniyah, reference is made to typed extract of the relevant page (1937) of Lorimer's
Persian Gulf Gazetteer(Geographical and Statistical Volume) which describes how the Dawasir tribe halted there, during the course of their emigration from Najd (see folio 236).Further discussion surrounds Turkish obstruction of the investigation of cases of piracy in the Persian Gulf and the proposed visit of H M S
Redbreastto Al Bidaa.Included in the volume are copies of the Committee for Imperial Defence papers 'Turkish Agression in the Persian Gulf" and 'Local Action in the Persian Gulf' (ff 12-15).The principal correspondents in the volume include the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey); the Viceroy of India; the ruler of Bahrain; the Political Agent, Kuwait (Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear); the British Ambassador to Constantinople; His Britannic Majesty's Acting Consul for Arabistan (Lieutenant Arnold Talbot Wilson); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox); the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 241; these numbers are written in pencil and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and ending flyleaves.A flap is pasted to the verso of folio 188.
Abstract: This volume is a printed account of the official winter tour of 1886-87 in Babylonia, Assyria and Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) undertaken by Colonel William Tweedie, Bengal Staff Corps, Political Resident in Turkish Arabia (Iraq) and His Majesty's Consul-General at Baghdad. The purpose of the tour was to visit the Vice-Consulate of Mosul in Upper Mesopotamia and the Consulate at Bussorah [Basra], as well as Indian subjects residing in Karbala and Najaf, the two centres of Shiah pilgrimage. In addition, the author identifies it as an opportunity to see the inhabitants and features of Turkish Arabia more generally (folio 7). The report was published by the British Residency Baghdad on 24 May 1887, and printed by the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, India in 1888. This copy was presented by the author to George Curzon (see inscription on folio 2v).The volume contains a table of contents (folio 5), list of maps and illustations (folio 6), and note on Arabic and Persian transliteration and names (folio 6v). The volume includes the following sections: 'Section I.- Marching in Turkish Arabia'; 'Section II.- Transport'; 'Section III.- Equipment'; 'Section IV.- From Tigris to Euphrates'; 'Section V.- Across Al Jazîrah [al-Jazīrah]'; 'Section VI.- Localised Bedouins east of Tigris'; 'Section VII.- Through Al Hawîja [al-Ḥawījah] to Kirkûk'; 'Section VIII.- Kirkûk to Sulimânîa [Sulaymānīyah]'; 'Section IX.- Sulimânîa to Mosul'; 'Section X.- Mosul to Sinjâr Hills', including details about the Yazîdîs [Yazidis]; 'Section XI.- Sinjâr to Der on the Euphrates'; 'Section XII.- Right bank of Euphrates, from Der to Rumâdi [al-Ramādī]'; 'Section XIII.- Southern Shâmîya'; 'Section XIV.- Karbalâ and Najaf'; and 'Section XV.- Baghdad to Bussorah and back, by steamer', including details on Arab coast of the Persian Gulf and Muhamarah.Illustrations include: 'Resident's Camp, Turkish Arabia, 1886' (folio 7v); 'Mule gear equally for draught and pack' (folio 8); 'Arab pâlân [
pālān, pack-saddle]' and 'Persian pâlân' (folio 9); 'Arab Camel-rider: and Saddle' and 'Horseshoe of Arabs, Persians, Turkomans, Afghans, and others' (folio 9v); 'Picqueting chain and peg (forefront)' and 'Arab and Persian paiwand' (folio 10); 'Arab rashma [
rashmah]: including (1) rashma proper, or (iron) nose-band: (2) idhâr [
‘idhār]
,or headstall: and (3) rasn [
rasan] (lit. rope) or rein' (folio 10v); and 'Flying camp: Sinjâr to Karbala (all three tents Baghdad-made)' (folio 24).Maps include: 'Map Accompanying Account by Resident, Turkish Arabia, of his Winter-Tour, 1886-87' (folio 4v); 'Sketch of Map of Route from Hît to Tikrît crossing lower portion of Al-Jazîra' (folio 14v); 'Mosul Pashâlik, 1887' and 'Plan of Mosul Town (After Capt. F. Jones), 1852' (folio 18v); and 'Straightest route (across Syrian desert) for camel riders only, between Baghdad and Mediterranean, as followed by late (Consular) dromedary post' (folio 27).Physical description: Condition: Folio 34 includes annotation (likely by Curzon) and a section of text has been cut out and removed.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: The volume consists of letters sent outwards (between 1 February 1789 and 18 July 1796), and inwards (between 20 October 1792 and 13 April 1798) from or to the Bushire Residency; the position of Resident at Bushire being initially held by Charles Watkins, but he was relieved in December 1792 by Nicholas Hankey Smith. These are primarily addressed to, or sent from, the Resident and Factor at Bussora [Basra] (Samuel Manesty and Harford Jones Brydges, later Nathan Crow and Piter le Messurier); and the President and Governor in Council, Bombay (in chronological order; William Medows, Robert Abercromby, George Dick, John Griffith, and Jonathan Duncan), or his secretary John Morris.The function of the Bushire Residency during this period was primarily commercial, and this is reflected in the correspondence. The main subject discussed is the importation of wool into Bushire and Bussora, and its subsequent sale. The acquisition of Carmenian [Armenian] wool is therefore much discussed as a result. The importation of other goods such as tin, lead, and steel are also discussed to a lesser degree due to the high demand for these articles at Bushire.Accounting concerns are another recurring topic within the volume. Primarily, this is related to changes to be made to accounting procedures, but it also includes a number of reports produced by the Committee of Accounts, Bombay, on the accounts and disbursements of the Bushire Residency; the Resident's responses to these reports can be found in the outwards correspondence.Political concerns are less prominent. However, the volume does contain a number of reports from the Resident at Bushire on the unstable political situation in Persia. In addition, subsequent to the outbreak of war between Britain and France in 1792, reports can also be found respecting the presence of French ships off Muscat, and the arrival at Bagdad [Baghdad] of individuals believed by the British to be in the service of the French Government.The movement of the East India Company's vessels in the Persian Gulf is frequently reported on as a matter of standard procedure; mainly related to the delivery of letters and packets. However, the volume also includes orders addressed to the commanders of the Company's ships, which are included as enclosures to letters sent to the Resident at Bushire; these are by and large of a routine nature.Physical description: Condition: The volume is made up of photocopies of variable quality, and it appears that the copies have been reduced in size from the originals. As a result, a significant proportion of the text is difficult to read.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.To account for folios missed when the file was originally numbered, the volume contains the following foliation corrections; 13, and 13A; 72, and 72A.
Abstract: Copy of a letter in French from Jean Raymond to the Governor-General of the Isle de France [Mauritius] Capitaine Général De Caen [Charles Mathieu Isidore Decaen], of 31 January 1809. This letter was part of the papers seized from French courier Jean Robbio at Bushire by Stephen Babington, in charge of the Residency at Bushire (see IOR/L/PS/9/68/60). The letter concerns:The arrival of Sir Harford Jones at Chiraz [Shiraz] and the refusal of the Shah of Persia Fath Ali Shah [Fath-Ali Shah Qajar] and his Grand Vizier [Mirza Muḥammad Shafī‘ Māzandarānī] to treat with himThe difficulties experienced by Raymond in attempting to secure the loyalty of the Governor of Bagdad [Baghdad], Soliman III [Sulayman Pasha]The reception of James Rich [Claudius James Rich] as Resident in Bagdad, and the visit to Bagdad by a party of British military surveyorsSoliman III’s motivations for keeping Bussora [Basra] within Bagdad’s sphere of influence.The letter was enclosed in HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Persia [Iran], Sir Harford Jones’s secret letter of 14 September 1810, which was received on 6 February 1811.Physical description: 1 item (5 folios)