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61. Letters Outward 1837
- Description:
- Abstract: The file contains letters sent outwards from the British Residency in the Persian Gulf by Samuel Hennell (the Resident), and Thomas Mackenzie (Acting Assistant in Charge of the Residency). The main recipient being John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Political Department of the Bombay Government. Other significant recipients are Edward M Wood, Secretary to the Military and Steam Departments of the Bombay Government; John McNeil, HM Minister Plenipotentiary and Minister Extraordinary to the Court of Persia; and the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London.The correspondence includes material of a routine administrative nature; such as the movement of company ships, the transportation of mail, personnel matters, and so on. The trials of Noor Mahomed Beg [Nūr Muḥammad Beg] in conveying packets between Bushire and Tehran are outlined in more detail; a list of expenses he incurred in the process is also included. Additional topics covered include the suitability of various locations — Anjar, Bundar Maculla, Karrack [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye], and Muscat — for establishing a coal depot; the viability of relocating the base of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf from Bassidore [Bāsaʻīdū] to Anjar; the temporary occupation of Karrack by British forces; and the testing of the navigability of the Euphrates river through the ascent of an iron steamer.Included in the file are reports on the Resident's annual tour of the Arabian Coast. The main object being the renewal of the Maritime Truce, and its extension from a period of eight to twelve months. The Resident is also involved in trying to get the Arab Chiefs to formally recognise the restrictive line in the Persian Gulf; a neutral zone within which no hostility at sea will be tolerated.The efforts of the Resident to suppress the trade in slaves in the Persian Gulf is also featured; this being prompted by a complaint alleging that traders of the Joasmee [Āl Qāsimī] tribe had abducted women from the coast of Barbarah [Berbera] for the purpose of selling them as slaves. It also covers the Resident's efforts to prevent hostilities at sea between Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi] and Debaye [Dubai], as a result of Shaikh Khuleefa bin Shakboot's [Khalīfah bin Shakhbūṭ] attack on the Sea Tower of the Fort of Debaye.In a similar vein, the file includes correspondence related to the Resident's efforts to mediate a settlement between the Chief of Bahrain, and his revolted dependants — Esa ben Tareef [‘Isá bin Ṭarīf], and Ibn Salamah [Ibn Salāmah] — residing at Aboothabee. It also discusses the complete abandonment of Wukrah [al Wakrah] by the Boo Eymeen [Bu Ajman] tribe, and their relocation to Aboothabee, and a request from the Beni boo Ally [Banī Bū ‘Alī] for a reconciliation with the Beni boo Hoossun [Banī Bū Ḥusayn].The file also covers the advances of Ameer Khaled [Amīr Khālid] — with the support of the Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā of Egypt — against Ameer Fysul [Amīr Fayṣul], the Wahabi Chief, in Nedgd [Najd], and the resulting threat this poses to the Chief of Bahrain, Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah.The correspondence also concerns itself with the perceived hostility, and obstructive attitude of the Prince of Shiraz against the British at Bushire. The replacement of Shaikh Nasir [Shaykh Nāṣir] as Governor of Bushire by Mirza Abbas [Mīrzā ‘Abbās], and his subsequent replacement with Mirza Assadoollah [Mīrzā Assad ‘Allāh] following a dispute with the merchants of that place.Included is list of equipment received from India on the requisition of Sir Henry Bethune showing their subsequent distribution, along with another list estimating the cost of building a coal depot with a capacity for 1000 tons of coal.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the cover 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.Pagination: An original incomplete pagination sequence is also present in the file between ff 2-91. These numbers are located in the top outermost corner of each page. Please note that there are significant gaps present in this sequence.
62. Native letters outward
- Description:
- Abstract: The file consists of letters drafted from the British Residency in the Persian Gulf:Draft letter to Abdullah bin Ahmed, acknowledging that properties of Adeed's merchants were plundered by the Bani Yas, not considering this as a good enough reason for British intervention, but promising to write to Shaikh Khulleefa ben Shackboot of Aboothabee [Khalīfah bin Shakhbūṭ, Chief of Abu Dhabi], asking him to return the goods (folios 2v-3);Draft letters to Shaikh Khulleefa ben Shackboot of Aboothabee, requesting the recovery of the goods plundered from the merchants of Adeed (folio 4 and 6v);Draft letters to Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur [Sulṭān bin Saqr, Chief of Ra's al-Khaymah] regarding his piracy acts (folios 5 and 5v-6).As a result of the volume having been weeded in the past, there are truncated letters throughout the volume, some of which are identifiable by their having been crossed out in blue pencil.Physical description: Pagination: There is an incomplete pagination sequence, which is written in ink, in the top right corners of the rectos and in the top left corners of the versos. Foliation: The foliation sequence is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the last folio before the back cover, on number 6.
63. Persian Gulf Affairs
- Description:
- Abstract: Copies of correspondence relating to affairs in the Persian Gulf and Arabian coastline, chiefly British attempts to avert potential conflicts between Arab maritime rulers, the disruption of trade with India, acts of ‘piracy’, and the undermining of British influence in the area.The papers notably cover:Efforts of Captain Samuel Hennell, British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, to mediate and promote resolution of the dispute between Abdoollah bin Ahmed, [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah] Shaik of Bahrein [Bahrain], and his ‘fugitive’ subject Esa bin Tareef [Shaikh ‘Īsá bin Ḥamad bin Ṭarīf Āl Bin 'Alī al-'Utbī] and members of his Al-i-Ally [Āl Bin 'Alī] tribe, who have taken refuge in Abothabee [Abu Dhabi] under the rule of Kuleefa bin Shakboot [Shaikh Khalīfah bin Shakhbūṭ Āl Nahyān], the Shaik of Abothabee [Shaikh of Abu Dhabi]. Includes: the Shaik of Bahrein’s secret pledge allowing all the ‘fugitives’ to resettle on the coast of Gutter [Qatar]; the British restrictive boundary line beyond which Arab maritime operations are ‘forbidden’; the role of the Indian Navy in facilitating negotiations and patrolling the GulfBritish policy with regard to a possible attempt by Khorshid Pasha [Khūrshīd Pāshā, also spelled Khoorshid and Koorsheid, and Pacha, in this volume], Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Forces in Nedgee [Najd, also known as Nejd], to conquer the island of Bahrein and ascertainment of the Shaik of Bahrein’s allegianceEvents on the island of Karrack [Kharg, also known as Khark], recently occupied by the British after an incident in Bushire [Būshehr] and deteriorated relations with Meerza Assud [Mirza Assad], Governor of Bushire, notably: the departure in April 1839 of Sheik Nasir [Shaykh Nāṣir] to seek asylum in Koweit [Kuwait]; departure of the Belochee [Balochi] garrison from the fort and its take-over by the British; arrangements by Lieutenant-Colonel James Shirreff, Commanding the Detachment at Karrack, for martial law on the island and his difference of opinion with Hennell regarding the Persian ‘threat’Events in Bushire following the British departure, notably: arrangements for a British presence in the town; conditions at the Residency building; Persian attempts to persuade the British to return there including Hennell’s communications with the Prince of Shiraz, and the latter’s deputing of a negotiator, Mohamed Hussain Khan Sirdar, to promote re-establishment of friendly relations; Hennell’s refusal to return unless Meerza Assad is removed and refuting the latter’s claims that the British navy fired first on his people at Bushire; discussion of whether Mirza Assad was acting independently or upon orders from Shiraz or TehranIntelligence from Meerza [Mirza] Riza, the News Writer at Shiraz concerning purported Persian military operations towards Herat and BushireNaval tour of the Persian Gulf and Arabian coastline by Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland and Lieutenant Edmunds, Assistant Resident Persian Gulf [also referred to as Captain in this volume], to ascertain: the political stance of various sheiks towards each other and the British, and potential for a united coalition against an attacking foe; the resistance capability of Bahrein; and the views of the Bahreini people towards the Egyptians and the British. Includes Maitland’s report, with notes taken by Captain Edmunds, of the meetings held with the different sheiks between 22-30 April 1839 (ff 503-511).The principal correspondents are: Captain Hennell, and John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government, Bombay [Mumbai].Other correspondents include George Barnes Brucks, Commodore of the Squadron of the Indian Navy in the Persian Gulf; John Croft Hawkins, Commander and Senior Officer, Bushire; and Lieutenant-Colonel Shirreff.There is a note before the papers commence stating: ‘Enclosure in Bombay Secret Letters No. 65-6, dated 18th May 1839, is missing from this collection’.Physical description: The papers are not in chronological order.
64. Vol 166 ‘1850 No.3. Political Department Bushire Resident English Records Arabian Coast of Persian Gulf’
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains letters written mainly in 1850 and a few letters written in December 1849. Most letters are from Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Hennell, British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire to Arthur Malet, Chief Secretary to Government, Political Department, Bombay. The British Political Resident’s letters provide the Governor in Council of the Bombay Presidency with an up to date account of affairs in the Persian Gulf and usually enclose copies of other, relevant official correspondence, including:English translations of numerous Arabic letters regularly received by the British Political Resident from Moollah Houssein and Hajee Jassem, the British Residency native agents at Shargah [Sharjah] and Bahrein [Bahrain] respectively, reporting events and intelligence gathered in their territories;English translations of five Arabic letters from the Chiefs of Bahrein [Bahrain] and Sohar [Ṣuḥār] in Oman, to the British Political Resident, in response to the latter’s demands or proposals (folios 23-24, 61-63, 81, 93-94);Transcripts of four letters received by the British Political Resident from Commodore Porter, Commander of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf aboard the ship Clive and Lieutenant Alexander Foulerton, commanding the ship Mahi, reporting on their patrols and intercepts at sea in the Persian Gulf (folios 13, 15-16, 35-38).The letters written by the British Political Resident, the British Residency native agents and the Indian naval officers contain reports mainly about the following: acts of piracy and other hostilities committed by rival Bedowin [Bedouin] tribes, relations between the Trucial Coast chiefs and the success of Indian naval peace-keeping boat patrols along the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf, in accordance with treaty obligations. The Indian naval boats were expected to prevent attacks by sea upon the Arabian Ports of the Persian Gulf and to suppress all acts of maritime aggression against the crews, cargoes and slaves of trading vessels. The specific events in 1850 that are reported and discussed in this volume of letter correspondence include:The siege of the town of Sohar by Syed Soweynee, the Governor of Muscat, following the resumption of power by Syed Humood ben Azan, the deposed Chief of Sohar (folios 17, 22-29, 31-33, 35-36);The piracy of Soheil ben Ateish (folios 15-16, 20-21, 44-45, 87-98);Renewal of aggressions at sea between the inhabitants of Debaye [Dubai] and Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi] who steal each other’s slaves and boats, and the demands of the British Political Resident that rival chiefs Sheik Mukhtoom of Debaye [Āl Maktūm, Shaikh Buṭṭī bin Suhayl, Chief of Dubai] and Sheik Saeed ben Tahnoon of Aboothabee [Shaikh Said bin Tahnun Āl Nahyān, Chief of Abu Dhabi] should intervene to ensure that reparations are made (folios 15-16, 18-19);Plans of Sheik Mukhtoom, Chief of Debaye and Sheik Sultan ben Suggur, Chief of Shargah [Āl Qāsimī, Shaikh Sulṭān bin Saqr, Chief of Sharjah] to rebuild Adeed [Khor al-Udaid] and the steps taken by Sheik Saeed ben Tahnoon, Chief of Aboothabee to prevent it (folios 11-12);Plans of Ameer Fysul [Amir Faisal bin Turki], Chief of the Wahabee to organise a military expedition to rebuild Adeed, the reaction of Sheik Mahomed ben Khuleefa, Chief of Bahrein [Āl Khalīfah, Shaikh Muḥammed bin Khalīfah, Chief of Bahrain] and the opposition of Sheik Saeed ben Tahnoon, Chief of Aboothabee to the Ameer’s plans (folios 15-16, 18-19, 30, 57-60);Aggressions against the territories of the Imam of Muscat, in particular the siege and conquest of the Fortress of Shinas by the forces of Syed Humood ben Azan, Chief of Sohar and Sheik Sultan ben Suggur, Chief of Shargah (folios 39-43);The demands of the British Political Resident that Sheik Mahomed ben Khuleefa, Chief of Bahrein should strictly control the licensing of Bahrein boats in order to prevent acts of piracy and also, that he should make reparation for a Karrack [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye] boat, cargo and crew captured by a party of the Huwajir Tribe of Bedouins, using a boat they had obtained in Bahrein (folios 46-58, 61-65, 68-69, 77-82);The fears of Sheik Mahomed ben Khuleefa, Chief of Bahrein that fugitive members of the Uttobee Tribe of Arabs resident on Kenn Island [Kish Island] were planning to attack Bahrein and also the mediation of his brother, Sheik Ally [Āl Khalīfah, Shaikh ‘Alī bin Khalīfah] over the demand by the British Political Resident that the ruler of Bahrein should make a public apology for his insulting remarks about the British Government (folios 55-60, 70-76);The mediation of the British Political Resident over a proposed arrangement whereby Sheik Mahomed ben Khuleefa, Chief of Bahrein would pay an annual allowance to his cousins, the two impoverished sons of the late ex-Chief of Bahrein, Sheik Abdoollah ben Ahmed [Āl Khalīfah, Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad], on condition that they would dwell quietly on Kenn Island and give up all further schemes and claims against Bahrein (folios 85-86, 93-96);Negotiations by Sheik Mahomed ben Khuleefa, Chief of Bahrein with the Shereef of Mecca [Sharif of Mecca], for Turkish protection of his territories, a policy the British Political Resident fears other maritime Arab Chiefs might adopt (folios 83-84).Title page (folio 2): the following words in the title, ‘Department’, ‘Residency’ and ‘on’ are no longer complete. Damage along the right hand edge of the title page has obliterated part of these words. File cover title (folio 1): the abbreviated title ‘Book 166 Part 3 1850’ is written on the front cover of the volume.Physical description: Foliation: the letters in the volume are numbered 3-13, 14, 14A, 15-99, from front to back. The front cover of the volume is numbered 1 and the title page is numbered 2. The numbering is written in pencil in the top right hand side corner, on the recto of every folio.The 37 letters in the volume were originally numbered in ink and in most cases, on both the recto and verso of every folio, in the top right or left hand corner respectively, as follows: 3-20, 25-39, 41-55, 60, 62-85, 90, 94-115, 129-152, 156-169, 181-192, 197-200, 210-213, 222-231, 236-242, 254-258. Some of the gaps in the number sequence are due to the fact that blank folios and folios containing address details were not numbered.
65. Coll 5/36 ‘Persian Gulf Air Route: Air facilities at Yas Island and at Abu Dhabi’
- Description:
- Abstract: The file contains correspondence concerning negotiations with Shaikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, for air facilities at Yas Island [Sir Bani Yas] and Abu Dhabi. The required air facilities include emergency landing grounds, moorings for flying boats, and petrol storage facilities. A copy of the agreement reached (in both Arabic and English) can be found on folios 83-84.Following the conclusion of the agreement, the file documents the Shaikh's subsequent refusal to permit the construction of a fuel storage tank near Abu Dhabi and his ‘discourtesy’ towards the Commander of HMS Fowey. This includes measures taken by British authorities to ensure the Shaikh's compliance with the agreement and to obtain an apology for the aforementioned commander.The main correspondents are as follows: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven William Fowle), the Political Agent at Bahrain (Percy Gordon Loch), and the Commander in Chief of the East Indies Squadron. It also contains correspondence with the following British Government departments: the Admiralty, Air Ministry, the Foreign Office, and the India Office.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 117; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.