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 item comprises a copy of an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 3 of 1847, dated 9 January 1847. The enclosure is dated 27 November 1846.The primary document is a despatch from Major Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq], forwarding, for the information of the Government of Bombay and the Governor-General of India, copies of his communications to Henry Wellesley, HM Minister Plenipotentiary at Constantinople [Istanbul], reporting on affairs in the Bagdad Pachalic [Baghdad Pashalik].The papers cover the following matters:The punishment of the Persian [Iranian] troops who forced the gate at Kerbela [Karbala] the previous spring (1846) and the reparation and apology offered to Nejib Pashah, Pasha of Bagdad [Muḥammad Najīb Pāshā, Governor of Baghdad], by the Persian Government, which was delayed on its passage to Bagdad due to the quarantine measures imposed by Mohib Ali Khan [Muḥibb ʿAlī Khān], Governor of KermanshahThe serious disturbances in the southern part of the province of Kermanshah requiring Mohib Ali Khan to lead a force there, and so delaying the ‘tranquilisation’ of the Turco-Persian frontiers during the forthcoming winterThe problems at Bagdad subsequent to passport regulations being applied to Persian pilgrims (to Karbala) by the Turkish [Ottoman] Government, including: delays in issuing passports due to the large number of pilgrims; disagreement between Nejib Pasha and the Persian Consul over the proportion of Persian pilgrims entitled to free passports following the (unverified) order of the [Ottoman] Porte to grant them to poorer pilgrims; Nejib Pasha’s objection to the Persian Consul issuing passports to Persian pilgrims on the basis that Russian ‘Mahomedans’ [Muslims] from Georgia with Russian passports are not restricted, and his threats to repudiate the right of all Persian pilgrims to passports if the practice continuesRawlinson’s report on a conference he attended between Nejib Pasha and the Persian Consul, largely consisting of the Consul’s complaints about the infringement of Persian rights and Nejib Pasha’s responses, in relation to: a Persian nobleman of high rank who was deprived of his arms on his visit to Kerbella [Karbala] during the summer; the enlistment of Persian refugee soldiers in the Turkish army; frontier matters including the ‘depredations’ by frontier tribes; the Turkish guard ship off Mohamerah [Khorramshahr, formerly Mohammerah] which the Consul claims is impeding the trade of that place; and Persian intentions to facilitate the passage of their pilgrims journeying to Kerbela across the rivers Diala [Diyala] and Euphrates at cost-price in order to counter the expensive charges of the company contracted by the Turkish Government.Physical description: 1 item (9 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises a copy of an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 16 of 1847, dated 12 February 1847. The enclosure is dated 11 December 1846.The enclosure comprises two copies of the same despatch from Major Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq], forwarding, for the information of the Government of Bombay and the Governor-General of India, copies of his communications to Henry Wellesley, HM Minister Plenipotentiary at Constantinople [Istanbul], reporting on affairs in the Bagdad Pachalic [Baghdad Pashalik].The papers cover Rawlinson’s concerns that the recent death of Moollah Abdooll Azzeez [Mullā ‘Abd al-‘Azīz], the Persian [Iranian] Consul in Baghdad (also referred to as the ‘Persian Agent’), will engender a number of problems in the Pashalic. He refers to the following:The number of pilgrims in the city without a ‘national protector’The increased mutual depredations of the Turco-Persian frontier tribesThe inability and unwillingness of the unpaid deputy of the late Agent to ‘deal with political questions of any magnitude’ including representing Persia at a conference proposed (on the orders of Tehran) by the Governor of Kermanshah on the frontier to settle the differences between tribes preparatory to the settlement provided for in the Treaty (of Erzurum)Rawlinson’s lack of authority from the Foreign Office to represent Persian interests, but intention to mediate between Nejib Pasha [Muḥammad Najīb Pāshā, Governor of Baghdad] and the Persian authorities to promote good relations.Physical description: 1 item (8 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee [Bombay Secret Letter], No. 9 dated 16 January 1856. The enclosure is dated 22 December 1856.The item comprises a letter from Captain Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq], Baghdad, to the Secretary to the Government, Bombay, forwarding for the attention of the Governor in Council, Bombay, and the Government of India, a copy of two of his despatches to Charles Augustus Murray, HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Persia [Iran], reporting on the following matters:The recurrent differences between the Persian Consul in Baghdad, and the [Ottoman] Turkish Governor and local authorities in Baghdad, notably regarding the treatment of pilgrims and the ‘tolls and other charges to which [they] are liable in their transit from the frontier to Nejjif [Najaf] and back again’ (f 142)Discussions between the Persian Consul and the Governor of Baghdad, and the respective frontier authorities, regarding a ‘Muradee branch’ of the (‘Turco-Kurdish’) Jaaf tribe which ‘on its descent from the mountains of Ardelan [Ardalan] directs it march on the pasture grounds of Zohab’(f 143r) which is a contested territory.Physical description: 1 item (12 folios)