Abstract: Covering letter with a number of enclosures:An extract of paragraph 2 from a despatch (f 7) from the Honourable Committee, dated 28 November 1850, which makes reference to a letter from Lord Palmerston of 27 November 1850 (f 8), relating to a conference held with the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires, on the suppression of the slave trade in the Portuguese dominions on the coast of East Africa;An extract of a letter (f 8) from Lord Palmerston, Foreign Office, London, to Sir John Hobhouse, dated 27 November 1850, relating to the extension of an agreement made in 1847 between British and Portuguese government ministers, for British cruisers to patrol the coastal waters of the Portuguese dominions in East Africa where no Portuguese authorities are yet established, for slave trading activity;A protocol of a conference relating to the slave trade on the east coast of Africa (ff 9-10), held at the Foreign Office on the 19 November 1850. The protocol outlines an agreement between British and Portuguese government ministers, for British cruisers to patrol the coastal waters of the Portuguese dominions in East Africa where no Portuguese authorities are yet established, for slave trading activity;A letter (ff 11-12) from Edward Stanley of Alderley, to John Parker, First Secretary to the Admiralty, dated 23 November 1850. The letter encloses a copy of the Protocol of Conference (ff 13-15) held between His Lordship Viscount Palmerston and the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires, recording the renewal of the protocol for a further three years;Copy of the Protocol of Conference, held at the Foreign Office on the 12 August 1847. The original wording of the protocol states that Britain felt that 'great facilities' for slave trading existed along unpoliced stretches of the Portuguese East African coast, and an agreement made between the two countries permitted British naval vessels to 'pursue and capture' those vessels suspected of trading in slaves. The original agreement was made for a period of three years (1847-50).Physical description: 10 folios
Abstract: The file consists of a selection of correspondence sent from the Political Department of the Bombay Government to the Resident in the Persian Gulf during 1838; Samuel Hennell took up the position of Resident during that year. The subject matter covered includes the kidnapping of slaves from the Burburra [Berbera] coast; a British military expedition to the Persian Gulf; and the seizure of a boat belonging to Porbandar by the Mahara [Al-Maharah] Arabs of Wadi.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front 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.The item level references for the file utilise the folio numbers.Pagination: The file also contains an original pagination sequence written in ink; these numbers are located in the top outermost corner of each page.
Abstract: The volume consists of letters sent outwards from the office of the Resident in the Persian Gulf. The subject matter focuses on British relations with various powers in and around the Persian Gulf during 1823; more specifically, on enforcing the provisions of the General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf (1820), and talk of an intended Persian invasion of Bahrain. It also outlines the outcome of a tour of the Arabian coast by John Macleod in January 1823.Other matters covered include the state of the Residency house at Bushire, and an investigation into William Bruce's involvement in the case of Muḥammad Nabī Khān, along with some limited reporting on the possibility of Shaikh ‘Abd al-Rasūl Khān being removed from the position of Governor of Bushire by Prince Ḥusayn ‘Alī Mirzā.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences on the first page of text and continues through to the 3rd folio from the back of the volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: A pagination sequence also runs through the volume between ff 2-191; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the top outermost corners of each page.
Abstract: The volume consists of letters sent out by Ephraim Gerrish Stannus, the Resident in the Persian Gulf, and James Pringle Riach, the officer placed in charge of the Bushire Residency during his absences; the Resident is required to make a number of trips to the Arabian Coast during the period covered by this volume.The subject matter covered includes political activity in Persia principally relating to Shaikh ‘Abd al-Rasūl Khān, the Shaikh of Bushire, and Ḥusayn ‘Alī Mirzā, the Prince at Shiraz; this includes some discussion concerning a possible Persian expedition to retake Bahrain, and the insecure position of Shaikh ‘Abd al-Rasūl Khān at Bushire. The impact and consequences of an earthquake, which occurred at Shiraz are also reported.A great deal of correspondence is related to the Resident's role in enforcing the General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf 1820, which aims to curb piracy in the Gulf. There is therefore a great deal of material relating to mediating a dispute between the dependants of Sa‘īd bin Sultān Āl Sa‘īd, the Imam of Muscat (principally Shaikh Ṭaḥnūn bin Shakhbūṭ Āl Nahyān), and Sulṭān bin Saqr. There is also some material concerning the arrangement of transportation for the Resident's trips to the Arabian coast.Captain William Owen's efforts to suppress the slave trade in East Africa are covered to a degree by the correspondence; the Captain's authorised declaration of a British Protectorate over Mombasa is reported, along with his threats against other dependencies of the Government of Oman (for example, Zanzibar). There is also a limited amount of material concerning the Imam of Muscat's threats to blockade the port of Basra.Physical description: Condition: The front cover of the volume is detached from the binding, which is itself in poor condition, and many sections are loose. Much of the body of the volume is in good condition, but care must be taken as some of the folios are very fragile.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The volume contains the following amendments to the foliation; 1, and 1A; 20, and 20A; 90, and 90A.Pagination: The volume contains an original pagination sequence written in ink between ff 2-140; these numbers are located in the top centre of each page.
Abstract: Taylor reports that a number of boats from Soor [Sur] and Muscat, have tried to land 50 to 60 slaves in the region, first at Mohammerah [Khorramshahr], and then at a village called Perajie, for import into Ottoman territory.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Hennell writes of his frustrations of Persia not being a signatory to any maritime slave trade suppression treaties with Great Britain, offering his own remarks on the subject to Sheil. He states that the best option for preventing slaves reaching Persia is to cut off the supply from Zanzibar and Muscat, with the assistance of those dominions' rulers.Physical description: 2 folios
Abstract: Covering letter to an enclosure: a translated extract of a letter from Moollah Houssein [Mullā Husayn], the British agent at Sharjah, to Hennell, dated 28 May 1851. In his report, Houssein states that he knows all those boats on the Trucial coast departing for Africa, and describes the methods they employ in bringing slaves back from Africa, including landing at Soor [Sur] to monitor the situation, and landing further up the Batinah coast at night to drop slaves off, from which they are transported by land to the towns of the Trucial coast.Physical description: 2 folios
Abstract: Hennell acknowledges receipt of Porter's previous letter, expressing regret that Lt Leeds' report suggests that all the vessels arriving back on the Batinah Coast from Zanzibar with slaves had arrived prior to the arrival of the Honourable Company's schooner
Constance.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Covering letter, enclosing a copy of correspondence (not included in the file) from Commodore J. P. Porter, Commanding Indian Naval Squadron, itself enclosing an extract from a letter written by the Officer Commanding the Honourable Company schooner
Constance, reporting the return to the Batinah Coast of Arab vessels to and from Zanzibar. Hennell notes that the existing maritime treaties between the Arab coast rulers and the British Government do not cover slaves being landed and sold in the Arab territories, and that the profits that can be made by Arab slave traders outweigh the risks they take of British capture.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Hennell informs Sheil that amongst those vessels deployed in the slave trade by inhabitants of the Arab coast, was a bugla [boat] from a Persian port ('Mogoo'), which landed 60 slaves on the Persian coast.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Letter enclosing a translated communication from the British Agent at Sharjah (Mullā Husayn), reporting in detail on the slaves imported into the Arab coast of the Gulf this season. Hennell writes that the Agent has knowledge of 495 slaves being imported, but fears the number may be much more. The enclosure contains detailed information of individual slave traders, their boats, the number of slaves transported, and where they were landed.Physical description: 3 folios
Abstract: Hennell states that the British Agent at Sharjah (Mullā Husayn) reports in a late communication that 75 slaves were landed at Mogoo on the Persian Coast, and not 60 as previously stated (f 22). Hussein also reports that a bugla [boat] belonging to a Persian subject from Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh] has returned from the African coast with 45 slaves.Physical description: 1 folio