Abstract: This file contains letters written by David Wilson, the British Resident in the Persian Gulf based at Bushire. The bulk of the letters are addressed to William Newnham, Chief Secretary to the Government in Bombay and John Wedderburn, Accountant General in Bombay.The letters discuss relations with Abdoolah Ben Ahmed [Abdullah bin Ahmad], the ruler of Bahrain as well as tensions between him and Said bin Sultan, the Imam of Muscat.The file also contains a detailed account of an attack on the town of Bushire written by Wilson in December 1828 (ff. 19v-23).Physical description: Condition: The folios of the file are now loose in a folder but there is evidence of previous binding.Foliation: The file's 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 of writing, on number 29. This is the sequence which has been used by this catalogue to reference items within the volume.Pagination: The file's pagination sequence is written in ink, in the top right corners of the rectos and in the top left corners of the versos. It begins on the first page of writing, on number 135, and ends on the last page of writing, on number 364. There are several numbers missing from this sequence.
Abstract: Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Residency and Muscat Political Agency for the year 1883-84, by Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Charles Ross, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, published by Authority by the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta [Kolkata]. A copy of a letter from Ross to Charles Grant, Secretary to the Government of India (Foreign Department), dated 17 July 1884, is included in the report (folio 33), the original of which submitted the report to Government, under the following headings:Part 1 (
General Report), written by Ross (folios 34-39), containing summaries of local political affairs, and incidents or events of particular note for: Oman and the Pirate Coast; Bahrain; Nejd, El-Hasa [Al-Hasa] and El-Katr [Qatar]; Fars, including Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh] and Bunder Abbass [Bandar-e ʻAbbās], and the coast between Bushire and Bandar-e Lengeh; Persian Arabistan; Persian Beloochistan [Baluchistan] and Gwadur; and Bassidore. The report also contains summaries of changes in official personnel (referred to as political establishment); British naval movements in the Gulf; and a summary of meteorological events observed at the Bushire observatory. Appendix A contains tabulated and graphical meteorological data for the year, supplied by the Bushire observatory.Part 2 (
Administration Report of the Muscat Political Agency for the year 1883-84), submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Barrett Miles, Her Britannic Majesty’s Political Agent and Consul at Muscat, dated 9 June 1884 (folios 40-50), containing a summary of affairs at Muscat, including raids and fighting around Muscat in October 1884, between rebel forces and those allied to the Sultan of Muscat. The report also records changes to British official personnel at Muscat, and notes recent shipwrecks on the Muscat coast. Appendix A is a biographical sketch, written by Miles, of Sayyid Sa'eed-bin-Sultan, the Imam of Muscat.Part 3 (
Report on Trade for the Persian Gulf for 1883, folios 50-105), comprising a short summary of the year’s trade, and followed by two appendices, labelled A and B, but arranged in reverse order: B) Supplementary notes on the care and culture of date trees and fruit, written by A. R. Hakim, Assistant to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; A) tabulated data on trade, including data on imports and exports into and out of the Gulf ports of Bushire, Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh], Bunder Abbass [Bandar-e ʻAbbās], Bahrain and the Arab (Oman) coast. An index to the trade tables can be found at folios 53-54.Part 4 ([at Muscat]), submitted by Miles, dated 9 June 1884 (folios 105-12), comprising a short summary of the year’s trade at Muscat, and an appendix containing tabulated data on imports and exports at Muscat (listed by commodity), and the nationality and average tonnage of vessels visiting Muscat.Physical description: Foliation: There is a foliation sequence, which is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the first folio, on number 32, and ends on the last folio, on number 112.Pagination: The volume contains an original typed pagination sequence.
Abstract: The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, a Political Letter from the Government of Bombay to the East India Company Court of Directors, 16 February 1857.The item contains a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Atkins Hamerton, HM Consul and Company Agent in the dominions of His Highness the Imaum [Imām] of Muscat, to the Government of Bombay, dated 8 November 1856. It relays the news that Syud Sueed [Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd], Imaum of Muscat, died at sea on 19 October 1856 during his return voyage from Muscat to Zanzibar. Hamerton's letter provides details on the Imaum's last few days, his health before his death, and his will. It also includes Hamerton's comments on the Imaum's successor to his African territories [Sultanate of Zanzibar], his son Said Majid bin Sueed [Sayyid Mājid bin Sa‘īd Āl Bū Sa‘īd], and Hamerton's note that he is forwarding two letters from Said Majid, one addressed to the Governor-General of India and one addressed to the Governor of Bombay.Realising that Hamerton has accidentally sent them the letter for the Governor-General (copy included in the item), the Government of Bombay forward it to the Government of India, asking to be sent the letter addressed to the Governor of Bombay. They also instruct Hamerton to pass on their condolences but note they will await instructions from the Government of India before replying to Said Majid themselves.The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Bombay Political Department', Draft Number '789 [18]58', 'Collection No. 2', and 'Examiner's Office'. Originally, the Collection number was written as 'Collection No. 1 of No. 12 of 1857.' but the '1' was replaced with '2' and 'of No. 12 of 1857.' has been crossed out.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 1127, and terminates at f 1137, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the item also contains an original pagination sequence.