Abstract: The volume contains copies of letters, many with copies of their enclosures, sent by the Resident in the Persian Gulf, Captain Samuel Hennell, to Charles Norris, Chief Secretary to the Government in Bombay. The letters deal with a range of subjects, as follows:The extent of the slave trade between Mauritius and Muscat, and in the Persian Gulf in general (folios 1-5);Relations between the various rulers on the Arab coast and Oman, including a siege led by the Imam of Muscat’s forces against the town of Sohar, the failure of the siege and renewal of peaceful relations between Muscat and Sohar (folios 10-13, 30-33, 38-43); hostilities and subsequent peaceful relations between Shaikh Sultan ben Suggar [Sultan bin Saqr] of Ras el Khymah [Ra’s al-Khaymah] and Shaikh Tahnoon ben Shakboot [Tahnun bin Shakbut] of Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi] (folios 44-45, 48-52), relations between the Joasmee [Āl Qāsimī] Shaikhs and the ruler of Sohar, Humood bin Azan (folios 64-65). Many of these letters enclose translated reports from the British Agent at Sharjah, Moolla Hussain, and the translations of letters from Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr, Shaikh Tahnun bin Shakbut and others;Reports on the ambitions of the Wahabee [Wahhābī] ruler Toorky bin Saood [Turki bin ‘Abdullāh bin Muḥammad Āl Sa‘ūd], and in particular to his demands on and relations with Bahrain (spelt Bahrein throughout), his desire to be on good terms with the British Government, and his diplomatic overtures to the Arab Shaikhs (folios 6-9, 16-20, 46-47, 53-56);Report of the proceedings of the Brig of War
Euphratesduring February 1831, signed by Acting Commander Denton. The report lists its orders received shown alongside actions taken, in left- and right-hand columns (folios 14-15);The dispatch to Bombay of tobacco seeds, with instructions for their propagation (folios 26-29);The dispatch to Bombay of silkworm eggs, with a description of how silkworms are raised in Persia (folios 60-61);The establishment of the first lithographic press in Shiraz (folios 62-63).As a result of the volume having been significantly weeded in the past, there are multiple instances of truncated letters throughout the volume, most of which are identifiable by them having been crossed out in blue and occasionally red pencil.Physical description: Foliation: The volume is foliated from the first page of text to the last blank page at the end of the volume, using small pencil numbers positioned in the top-right corner of each recto. There is an unfoliated flyleaf before f.1 at the front of the volume. The front and back covers are unfoliated. Foliation anomalies: f.36 precedes f.35.Pagination: An original system of pagination runs through the volume, from the first to last page of text, using ink numbers in the top-left corner of versos and top-right corner of rectos. This pagination runs from p.23 to p.487 which numerous disruptions throughout, which are a result of past weeding of the volume.
Abstract: This file contains letters from the Government of Bombay to the Residency in the Persian Gulf at Bushire. Correspondents include Charles Norris, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, and William Henry Wathen, Secretary to the Government of Bombay. The recipients are David Anderson Blane, Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire, and Samuel Hennell, Acting Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire. Subjects include: the role of the British Government in disputes between the Imam of Muscat and his neighbours; the condition of buildings at Bassidore [Bāsa‘īdū] Station and its advantages as a port; the death of the Wahhabi Chief Turki ibn Saud [Turkī bin ‘Abdullāh Āl Sa‘ūd]; and the weak condition of the Gulf Squadron.Physical description: Pagination: There is an inconsistent pagination sequence, which is written in ink in the top right corner of each recto and in the top left corner of each verso. The sequence runs from 25 to 131, but there are a few gaps. Foliation: The foliation sequence is written in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the first folio of writing, on number 1, and ends on the last folio of writing, on number 19.
Abstract: The volume contains copies of letters sent in 1848 by Major Samuel Hennell, British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire, mainly to Arthur Malet, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay in the Political Department, Bombay Castle and also to Lieutenant Colonel Francis Farrant, British Chargé d’Affaires at the Court of the Shah of Persia, Tehran. Several personnel, financial and other administrative matters are also reported by the Resident to British officials in various government departments in India.In May and June 1848, Major Hennell undertook his annual tour of the Trucial Coast Sheikhdoms on the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf, aboard the Honourable Company (HC) sloop of war
Cliveand successfully negotiated anti-slavery treaties with the Arab Maritime Chiefs (folios 72-91, 207-210, 222, 223). During Hennell’s absence from the British Political Residency at Bushire, his official correspondence was carried out by Lieutenant Arnold Burrowes Kemball, the Assistant Resident.The correspondence in the volume is predominantly political, reporting events in the Persian Gulf in terms of their significance for British foreign policy, relations and interests in the region. There are two main topics of discussion. One is the British suppression of the African slave trade in the Persian Gulf and the eventual agreement of the Persian Government to apply the same prohibition to Persian subjects and ports of the Gulf, so that inhabitants of the Arabian coast could not use Persian vessels to evade the anti-slavery treaties between the British Government and the Arab Maritime Chiefs, recently concluded by Major Hennell. The other main topic is the changing alliances and frequent hostilities between the Arab Maritime Chiefs of the Trucial Coast, British concerns about the prospect of Ameer Fysul [Al Sa‘ud, Amir Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah], the Ruler of Nedgd [Najd] invading Oman and re-establishing his authority by military force.Many of the Resident’s letters to the Bombay Government refer to enclosures, several of which are present in the volume, including one document dated 1845 (folio 7). Among the enclosures are English translations of the Resident’s Arabic and Persian correspondence with agents, officials and rulers, mainly those in Muscat and Shargah [Sharjah].MUSCAT: Khojeh Hiskael the British Government Native Agent at Muscat and the Governor of Muscat, Syed Soweynee [Sayyid Thuwayni bin Sa‘id Al Bu Sa‘id] correspond with the Resident about the continuance of the African slave trade in Muscat by Persian vessels and the interpretation of the anti-slavery treaty between the British Government and the Imam of Muscat, signed at Zanzibar on 2 October 1845; the defeat of the forces of Ameer Fysul the ruler of Nedgd in Oman, by the forces of Syed Humood bin Azan [Sayyid Ḥamūd bin Azan Āl Bū Sa‘īd], the Chief of Sohar [Ṣuḥār], following the latter’s refusal to pay the annual tribute; the quelling of a rebellion at the port of Soor [Sur] by Syed Soweynee, the Governor of Muscat; the investigation of a complaint made by a bankrupt Muscat merchant against the British Agent at Muscat regarding his actions on behalf of British creditors and an interpretation of their rights under the commercial treaty between the British Government and the Imam of Muscat dated 31 May 1839; the recovery of customs duties irregularly demanded for British cargo aboard a ship temporarily detained at Muscat while on route from Bombay to Aden (folios 65, 116-118, 122, 163-164, 177-179, 194-195, 237-238).SHARJAH: Moollah Hussein the British Government Native Agent at Shargah and Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur [Sultan bin Saqr] the Chief of Rusul Khyma [Ras Al-khaimah] correspond with the Resident about the continuance of the African slave trade at Shargah and other Arabian ports by Persian vessels; the failed attempt to capture the Fort of Ejmaun by Shaikh Abdullah bin Sultan the Governor of Shargah, provoking the Shaikhs of Ejmaun [Ajman], Amulgavine [Umm al-Qaywayn] and Debaye [Dubai] into alliance with Shaikh Saeed bin Tahnoon [Said ibn Tahnun Al Nahayan] of Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi]; the defeat of the forces of the Wahabee (Wahhabi) Agent Saad ben Mootluk at Brymee [Buraimi] in Oman by the combined forces of Shaikh Saeed bin Tahnoon the Chief of Aboothabee and Shaikh Syed Humood bin Azan the Chief of Sohar: the confederacy between Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur the Chief of Rusul Khyma, Shaikh Muktoom [Maktum] the Chief of Debai [Dubai] and the Wahabee Agent Saeed ben Mootluk to re-possess Brymee by force and re-establish the Wahabee authority of Ameer Fysul the ruler of Nedgd, in Oman (folios 47-49, 52-53, 62-64, 66-67, 134-138, 151-155, 185-189, 215-217, 227-228, 251-257, 270-272, 287-290).The Resident’s correspondence with Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Farrant, British Chargé d’Affaires at the Court of the Shah of Persia, Tehran includes English translations of the following documents:Reports from Sheikh Syf bin Nubhan the Governor of Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] about Persian aggressions against Bunder Abbas and other lands on the Persian coast of the Gulf, belonging to the Imam of Muscat (folios 42-45, 95-96, 111-114);Orders issued by the Governors of Fars and Persian Arabia, prohibiting the future importation by sea of African slaves into Persia (folios 142-143, 190-191, 247);Reports from Meerza (Mirza) Mahmood the British Government Native Agent at Shiraz about public unrest in Shiraz, following reports of the death of the Shah of Persia on 4 September 1848 (folios 29-30, 128-129, 198-199, 213, 218-220, 235-237, 261-263, 274-279).Physical description: Foliation: the contents are numbered 2 to 311, from the front to the back of the volume. The numbering is written in pencil on the recto,in the top right corner and encircled. Folios 305 to 311 are blank. At the back of the volume is a transparent polyester sleeve numbered 312 that contains the remnants of the broken volume spine. The front cover of the volume is numbered 1. The plain white board at the back of the volume is unnumbered. This is the main numbering system and should be used for referencing this volume.Pagination: the contents are also paginated from 1 to 585. The numbering is written in ink, in the top right hand corner of the page. The page numbers 1 to 4 are no longer visible, because the right hand edge of the page is torn and missing.Condition: broken front cover (folio 1), two torn pages (folios 2-3), one tear at the bottom edge of the paper (folio 188), broken, detached spine cover (folio 312), missing back cover.
Abstract: The file consists of a note, dated 10 January 1918, written by John Evelyn Shuckburgh (Political Department, India Office) on a memorandum written by Sir Mark Sykes on the Palestine and West Arabian situation. The note was prepared for a meeting of the Middle East Committee. Shuckburgh comments on statements made by Sykes, and provides an account of the latest developments and plans for the region. A section is included on policy in regards to Bin Saud [Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd ] (Wahabi Emir of Nejd), and tensions with King Husain [Hussein bin Ali] (Sharif and Emir of Mecca). Recommendations for action are given.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 28, and terminates at f 30, as it is part of a larger physical volume; 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 28-30; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: This file consists of letters written by David Anderson Blane, Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire, during the first seven months of 1834. The incomplete pagination sequence (see the 'Physical Characteristics' field of this catalogue) reflects the fact that these letters have been selected from a larger collection of letters. As a result of this arrangement, several folios in the file (the recto of the first folio included, which is not a letter but an incomplete summary of letters dating from 1833) contain incomplete letters, all of which have had large crosses drawn across them in blue crayon. These letters remain legible, although they are, to varying degrees, incomplete.Most of the letters in the file are addressed to Charles Norris, Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay. These letters (eight in total) concern the following subjects:The progress of a feud between the Joasmee [Āl Qāsimī] tribe and the Beniyas [Bani Yas] tribe;The possible consequences of an extension of the Wahabee [Wahabi] sect's authority throughout the region;The death of the Wahabee Chief, Toorkee bin Saood [Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Āl Sa‘ūd, founder of the Second Saudi State], and the impact that this is likely to have on the Wahabee state's ambitions in the region;Imports and exports at the port of Bushire for the year 1833/1834;Disturbances within the the territories of His Highness the Imam of Muscat [Sa‘īd bin Sultān Āl Sa‘īd], and the British Government's intention (expressed in an enclosed draft of a letter to the Acting Governor of Muscat) to observe a strict neutrality in any misunderstandings which may arise between His Highness the Imam and the tribes of Arabia.In addition, the file includes letters addressed to the following recipients: John Wedderburn, Accountant General, Bombay; John Bax, Secretary to the Government, Bombay; and Sir John Campbell, Envoy to the Court of Persia, Tehran. The letters to John Wedderburn concern accounts; the letters to Sir John Campbell report the transmission of official and unofficial letters. In his letter to John Bax (see ff.6v-8), David Anderson Blane refers to a letter from the Court of Directors, which concerned the suppression of piracy in the Gulf; he argues that any attempts by the British to engage with the various tribes on the shores of the Gulf, either by treaties or by other measures, are likely to involve the British in the tribes' own petty feuds and quarrels, without any adequate advantage.Physical description: Pagination: There is an original, albeit 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. It is clear from this incomplete sequence that the letters in this file have been selected from a larger collection of letters. The sequence runs as follows: pp.11-20; pp.31-36; pp.89-94; pp.109-112; pp.127-134; pp.143-146.Foliation: There is a complete foliation sequence, which is written in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the first folio of writing, on number 1, and ends on the last folio of writing, on number 19.