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, 29 August 1854. A copy of this letter can be found at IOR/F/4/2586/154786, alongside details of further enclosures. The item is the third in a series of nine items on events in the Persian Gulf 1853-54.The item concerns complaints by Persian [Iranian] merchants residing in Bombay [Mumbai], including Aga Mahomed Ali ben Hajee Bakur [Āqā Muḥammad ‘Alī bin Ḥājjī Bāqir], and by Prince Moaymdud dowla Tahmasup Mirza [Mu‘tamid al-Dawlah Ṭahmāsb Mīrzā], Governor of Fars. Their complaints are communicated to the Government of Bombay through Mirza Mahomed Houssein Khan [Mīrzā Muḥammad Ḥusayn Khān], Persian Consul at Bombay, and Meerza Saduck [Mīrzā Ṣādiq], Acting Persian Consul at Bombay, between March and April 1854. The complaints allege that:Persian cargo on ships bearing the British flag has been forcibly seized at Kishm [Qeshm] by Sheikh Abdul Rahman ben Suggur [Shaikh ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Ṣaqr], Sheikh of the islandSheikh Abdul has also imprisoned Persian merchants on Kishm and Hoormuz [Hormoz]Persian merchants have been prevented from trading at Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbas] by the Imaum [Imām] of Muscat's Agent there, Syed Mahomed ben Salim [Sayyid Muḥammad bin Sālim].The Government of Bombay forward copies of the above to Captain Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Resident in the Persian Gulf. His replies are also included in the item, reporting:His belief that the complaints are inaccurate and that the merchants have ulterior motives in appealing for British interventionHis communications (copies included) with Sheikh Abdul Rahman ben Suggur and with Meerza Hassan Ally Khan, Dureya Beggee of Bushire [Mīrzā Ḥasan ‘Alī Khān, Daryā Begī, or Governor, of Bushehr] on the subjectHis communications (copies included) with Commodore George Robinson, Commanding the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf, and by extension, Lieutenant Robert Austice Stradling, Commanding Company schooner
Constance, regarding enquiries made at KishmHis reasoning that the blockade of Bunder Abbas by Syed Mahomed ben Salim is justified and moderate, given the ongoing hostilities between the Imaum of Muscat and the Persian Government.The Government of Bombay's subsequent replies to Meerza Saduck and Aga Mahomed Ali ben Hajee Bakur are also included.The item contains multiple spellings for multiple personal and place names.The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Bombay Political Department', Draft Number '20 1855', 'Collection No. 5 of No. 58 of 1854', 'Vol: 2' and 'Examiner's Office'. Originally, the Collection number was given as '2' but this has been crossed out and replaced with '5'.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 819, and terminates at f 847, 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.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship the
Loyal Cooke(written in the journal as the Loyall Cooke) from England to China, Madras [Chennai] and Bengal (Captain Richard Bolton), 4 February 1703/4 to 12 October 1707. The
Loyal Cookedeparted from the Downs on 4 February 1703/4, and the journal covers the ship's visits to the following destinations (dates are those of arrival): 23 June 1704, Batavia [Jakarta]; 8 August 1704, Emoy [Xiamen]; 20 February 1704/5, Malacca; 29 April 1705, Madras; 27 July 1705, Ballasore [Balashore]; 9 October 1705, Calcutta [Kolkata]; 29 January 1705/6, Callicutt [Kozhikode]; 31 March 1706, Gombron [Bandar-e ʻAbbās]; 18 July 1706, Madras; 10 January 1707, Cape Bona Esprance [Cape of Good Hope]; 8 September 1707, Texell [Texel]; 12 October 1707, Deptford.The main part of the journal is a log book containing daily entries (although not for every day of the voyage) in seven columns: [Latitude by Observation, Latitude by Account, and Meridian Distance from a stated location], H [Hour], K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Courses, Winds, and a final column containing the date, remarks, and navigational observations. When the ship is at anchor the entries consist of remarks only. Information provided by these notes includes observations of weather and currents, sightings of land or other vessels, employment of the crew, and other miscellaneous remarks.The entries are double-dated, providing the dates in both Julian and Gregorian calendars.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 1, and terminates at f 130; it is part of a larger physical volume of different shelfmarks in which this shelfmark has been given its own separate foliation sequence, i.e. non-consecutive; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Fragment of a journal, describing part of a journey on the third voyage of the East India Company on the
Hector, from England to Mosanbique [Mozambique], under Captain William Hawkins. The journal's author is anonymous. There are missing entries between 30 August 1607 and 18 February 1607 [New Style date 18 February 1608].The journal mentions that the
Hectorpasses the following places: Island of Silvage [Salvage], Grand Canaries, Island of Cape Verde, Boa Wisto [Boa Vista], St Jago Island, Island of Mayo [Maio], coast of Guynea [Guinea], bay of Ethiopia, Malagueta (west coast of Africa), Island of Fernando Lorania [Fernando de Noronha], Cape St Augustine, Antillas [Antilles], Island of Nova Spaggna, Abrollioes [Abrolhos Archipelago], Cape de Buenea Esperanza [Cape of Good Hope], Sera Leona [Sierra Leone], coast of Madagascar, Island of John of Nova [Juan de Nova], and the coast of Mosanbique.The Journal consists of daily entries recording navigational information including preparation of the course in England, course, wind, watercourse, and general remarks. When the ship is at anchor or sailing near shore, the entries consist of general remarks. The remarks include sightings of reports of merchants (f 4); opinion of the author regarding the voyage (ff 8-10); issues with the crew and punishment (f 11); experience of Serra Leona and the native and Portuguese merchants (ff 14-15). The Journal mentions John Huighen Van Linschoten's book several times as a guide for the voyage (folios 6, 7, and 12). It also mentions the experiences of Francis Derek and Captain Cardish in Mayo, Serra Leona and Cape Verde (f 13). The author cites in Latin a fragment of the Enid [
The Aeneid] by Virgil (f 11).The Journal also mentions some officers and crew of the
Dragon,
Hectorand
Admiralships. In addition, the journal mentions Sir William Romney, Governor of the East India Company; William Greenwell, Deputy of the Company; Captain William Keeling; Captain Hawkins; Captain David Middleton; and Sir James Lancaster.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 19; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
Abstract: Fragment Journal of part of a journey on the third voyage of the East India Company on the
Hectorfrom Dellisha [Qalansiyah], a port town on the north coast of Socotra, to Surett [Surat], under Captain William Hawkins.The Journal consists of daily entries recording navigational information including preparation of the course in England, course, wind, watercourse, and general remarks. When the ship is at anchor or sailing near shore, the entries consist of general remarks.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 6; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This file contains correspondence between Sayyid `Abd al-Aziz bin Sa'id, the Sultan of Oman's cousin and competitor, and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf about Oman affairs. Specifically, the exchanges discuss whether the Sultan at the time, Faisal bin Turki, was fit to rule. The file also contains letters about a dispute between Arabs of Khasab and Kumzar and the 1882 Administration report and trade returns.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 63; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The volume contains full translations of some letters, and the translated substance of other letters addressed to the Resident in the Persian Gulf, the originals of which were in Arabic or Persian ['native letters inward'], for the year 1837.The correspondence falls mainly into two categories:(1) Letters from British Native Agents based at Bahrein [Bahrain], Lingah [Bandar-e-Lengeh], Muscat, Shargah [Sharjah], and Shiraz.(2) Letters from local rulers in the Persian Gulf. Those who figure most prominently include: Sultan bin Suggur [Sulṭān bin Saqr], Chief of Ras el Khymah [Ra's al-Khaymah]; Sheikh Abdollah bin Ahmed [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah], Chief of Bahrein; Sheikh Kulufa bin Shakboot [Khalīfah bin Shakhbūt], Chief of Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi]; Sheikh Abdur Rahaman bin Suggur [‘Abd al-Rahman bin Saqr], Chief of Kishm [Qeshm]; Sheikh Maktoom [Maktūm bin Buṭṭī], Chief of Debay [Dubai]; Sheikh Nassir [Nāṣir], Governor of Bushire, and the Imam of Muscat [Sa‘īd bin Sultān Āl Sa‘īd].The correspondence concerns maritime peace and acts of piracy; trade; movements of East India Company naval vessels and other ships; the dispatch of correspondence; and local affairs, including the military operations in Nedg [Najd] of Shaikh Khalid [Khalid bin Saud] against Sheikh Fysul [Fayṣul, the Wahhabi Chief], with the assistance of Mahomed Ally Pasha [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā], Ruler of Egypt, and the expedition of Sheikh Kulufa bin Shakboot against Adeed [Khor al-Udaid].Specific topics include:an approach by Sultan bin Suggur, Chief of Ras el Khymah, to renew the existing maritime truce [the Maritime Truce of 1835] (folios 27-28);news of the capture of Mombassa [Mombasa] by the Imam of Muscat (folio 29);news of the defeat of Sheikh Fysul in Nedg by Shaikh Khalid (folio 30);correspondence concerning the export of horses from Persia to Bombay, (folios 33-34);correspondence concerning Egyptian forces in Nedgd [Najd] (folios 34-36);reports submitted by the Agents at Bahrein and Shargah on the trade of those areas (folios 130-132).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at 1 on the front cover and terminates at 133, the last folio of the main run of text, but note that some text written in pencil also appears on the last folio before the back cover. The numbers are written in pencil, are enclosed in a circle and appear in the top right corner of the recto page of each folio. Foliation anomalies: ff 1, 1A, ff 93, 93A. This is the system used to determine the sequence of pages.Pagination: the volume also contains a pagination sequence, numbered 1-261, written in ink and latterly pencil (folios 2-132). The numbers appear in the top right corners of the rectos and top left corners of the versos.Condition: the volume has suffered some damage to the edges of pages, involving slight loss of text. However, the damage does not anywhere impair the sense of the text.
Abstract: The volume consists of correspondence sent to and from the Bushire Residency; the principal correspondents being Major Samuel Hennell, Resident in the Persian Gulf at the time, and John Croft Hawkins, Commodore commanding the Squadron in the Gulf of Persia, on board the East India Company Sloop
Clive. The main topic covered is piracy.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation is in pencil, circled, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The numbering commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 53. The remains of an original pagination sequence is also present in the file between ff 2-53; these numbers are written in ink.
Abstract: The volume contains copies of incoming and outgoing correspondence for the Persian Gulf Residency. At the start of 1852 Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Hennell is Resident, before being superseded by Captain Arnold Kemball. Correspondence in the volume falls under the following headings:Persia, Basra and Baghdad (folios 2-4);The Persian Gulf slave trade (folios 6-8);Correspondence with the Muscat Political Agent (folios 10-23);Commerce (folios 25-39);Miscellaneous items (folios 40-51).Physical description: Foliation: There is an original pagination sequence, which is written in ink, in the top right of each recto and the top left of each verso. There is one foliation sequence, which is written in pencil, in the top right corner of each folio. The sequence begins on the title page, on number 1, and runs through to 52, ending on the inside of the back cover of the volume. The following details should be noted: f 7 is followed by f 7A; f 8 is followed by f 8A; f 23 is followed by f 23A; f 39 is followed by f 39A.On some pages the lines of handwritten have been truncated where the pages have been later cropped, making the legibility of words at the edges of pages difficult to read. One item in the volume (f 32) is written is in cypher.
Abstract: This file contains letters sent to the Residency in Bushire (spelt Abusheer in earlier correspondence in the file) from officials at Bombay Castle, primarily from the Political Department. The correspondence discusses the costs and location of the Residency, an attack on the town of Bushire in 1828, the internal political situation in Persia and British relations with the Imam of Muscat related to his desire to interfere in the affairs of Persia and Bushire.The file also contains letters in Farsi sent from Bombay to the Hoosain Ulli Meerza [Husain Ali Mirza], Prince of Sheeraz [Shiraz] in 1829 (ff. 29-30) and a translation of a firman issued in 1838 by Mohammad Shah Qajar, the ruler of Persia, relating to British trading rights in Persia (folio 80).Physical description: The folios of the file are now loose in a folder but there is evidence of previous binding.Foliation: The file is foliated from the front cover to the inside back cover, using circled pencil numbers positioned in the top-right corner of each recto. The files contains the following foliation errors: 43a. This is the sequence which has been used by this catalogue to reference items within the volume.Pagination: An original pagination system runs throughout most of the volume, written in ink in the top-left corner of verso pages, and the top-right corner of recto pages.
Abstract: This file contains translations of letters sent to David Wilson, the Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire.The letters contained in the file are from Britain's native agents (based at Bahrain, Muscat, Sharqah [Sharjah] and Lingah) and from several local rulers including the Chief of Bushire, the Imam of Muscat, Shaik Sooltan Bin Suggur [Sulṭān bin Saqr Āl Qāsimī, the Ruler of Sharjah], Shaik Abdoolla of Kishm [Shaikh Abdullah of Qeshm] and the Chief of Lingah.The letter discuss a number of topics related to political and trade developments in the region and to Britain's relations with local rulers.Physical description: Condition: A bound letter book, the covers of which have come loose.Pagination: The file has a pagination sequence, which is written in the top right corner of each recto and the top left corner of each verso. It begins on the front cover, on number 1A, and ends on the last page of writing, on number 183.
Abstract: The volume contains correspondence sent by the Resident in the Persian Gulf, Captain David Wilson. Most of the recipients of the letters are officials of the Government of Bombay, including Charles Norris, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, John Wedderburn, Accountant General, Major General Sir John Malcolm, Governor and President in Council, and William Sowden Collinson, Captain and Senior Marine Officer in the Persian Gulf.Most of the correspondence in the volume concerns the day-to-day affairs of the Residency:Financial matters, including the forwarding to Government of bills of exchange; disbursements; receipts; contingent expenses; bills for building maintenance; orders for office supplies, etc.;Post and supplies, in the form of the receipt and forwarding of mail packets, usually between Basra/Persia and Bombay; the receipt and despatch of currency, treasure, medical and office supplies, etc.;Coordination of the activities of the Bombay Marine/Indian Navy in the Gulf, including instructions for the despatch of ships to the Arab Coast to hand out/receive letters to/from British Agents and Shaikhs; embarkation returns;Commercial shipping activities, including the delivery and despatch of cargo; details of vessels carrying ‘treasure’; complaints and disputes raised by or against the captains of British merchant ships at Bushire.The rest of the volume’s correspondence deals with specific events, incidents and reports:Announcement of peace between the Imam of Muscat and the Chief of Bharien [Bahrain] (pp 3-5);Affairs at the Persian court, including the Shah’s visit in early 1830 to Shiraz, with the intention of obtaining 200,000 tomans in tribute from the city (pp 5-9, 14-17, 35-39, 45-48, 106)Reports on the activities of a Captain Chiffala [or Chiefala] in Persia (pp 103-05, 121-24, 165-68);The Imam of Muscat’s departure from Muscat to Zanzibar to reclaim Mombasa, reports of subsequent disturbances in Oman in light of the Imam’s absence, and the Imam’s subsequent return (pp 18-19, 40-44, 197A-99A, 217-18);Reports of Wahabee [Wahhābī] activity on the Arabian peninsula, including the occupation of Lohsa [also written as Lahsah, probably referring to Al-Hasa], and subsequent tensions on the Arab Coast (pp 157-59, 223-24);Piracy committed by subjects of Bahrain against a Muscat vessel, and efforts to recover the stolen goods (pp 232-39);Ill-health of the Assistant Resident Samuel Hennell (p 293);Shipwrecking of the merchant vessel
General Barnes, and efforts to recover its crew and cargo (pp 299-306);An annual report of the import and export trade between India and Bushire (listed by month, pp 346-57);The relay of a packet from Baghdad to Bombay in October 1830, announcing the death of King George IV and the accession to the throne of the Duke of Clarence as William IV;Wilson’s application to resign the post of Resident in the Persian Gulf on the grounds of ill-health, his intention to proceed to Europe, and plans for the appointment of his successor by March 1831 (p 379);Physical description: Pagination: This file has a complete pagination sequence, which begins on the front cover, on number 1A, and ends on the inside of the back cover, on number 423. Pagination errors: p.1A-B; p.105A; p.106A; p.107A; p.108A; p.109A; p.110A; p.111A; p.112A; p.197A; p.198A; p.199A; p.200A; p.325A. This is the sequence which has been used by this catalogue to reference items within the volume.Condition: There is extensive insect damage, in the form of small holes around the edges of the pages, throughout the file. This damage is not sufficient to impair legibility of the file’s contents.
Abstract: The volume consists of chronological diary entries containing transcripts of correspondence sent and received, and notes on the arrival and departure of vessels at Bushire. The Resident during the period covered was William Bruce (acting).The correspondence sent is entered under the date the letter was written; that received is entered under the date of receipt at Bushire. The correspondence is mostly between the Resident and other East India Company officials, particularly officials of the Government of Bombay; the Resident at Bagdad [Baghdad] (Harford Jones); the Resident at Muscat (David Seton); officials in charge of the Residency at Bussora [Basra] (John Law and Lieutenant William Eatwell); and commanders of ships of the Bombay Marine (the East India Company's navy).The records of shipping consist of a note of the day of arrival and departure of ships of the Bombay Marine and country ships (privately-owned merchant ships, which operated under licence from the East India Company), and information on their port of origin and destination. The term 'imported' is used to indicate the arrival of a vessel.General topics covered in the volume include:political developments in the Gulf;movements of ships;piracy;sale of East India Company merchandise;appointments;personnel matters;accounting and financial matters;administrative matters;relations with the Court of Persia;relations with local rulers and Persian officials;the activities of the French in the region;reports of political and military developments in Europe.Specific topics include:correspondence concerning the activities and whereabouts of a French officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Alexandre Romieu, former minister at Corfu, who had made his way from Constantinople into Persia on a mission the objectives of which were unclear, entries for 27 September - 22 November 1805 (folios 14-32v);correspondence relating to the recovery of cargo from the merchant ship
Hector, 29 October - 22 November 1805 (folios 23v-32v);letter from Lieutenant W Eatwell, Bombay Marine, commanding the
Fury, at Bussora, dated 20 October 1805, reporting the death of John Law, Resident of the Factory at Bussora and stating that he had taken temporary charge of the Residency there (entry for 31 October 1805, folio 28v)correspondence from the Political Department of the Government of Bombay concerning the Persian Embassy, particularly relating to an affray that had taken place on a road near Bombay in November 1805 between an East India Company officer cadet and two servants of the Persian Ambassador, 26 January 1806 (folios 60-89v).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at 1A on the front cover and terminates at 92 on the back cover. The numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and appear in the top right hand corner of the recto page of each folio. Foliation anomalies: ff. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F; ff. 21, 21A; ff. 35, 35A.Pagination: an original pagination sequence written in ink numbered 1-178 is present between ff. 1F-89. These numbers appear in the top right or top left corners of each page.Condition: there is a hole measuring approximately 60x50mm in the top centre of folio 1F, probably caused by the oxidisation of iron gall ink. This hole reappears, diminishing in size, in the following nine folios (to f. 10). The holes have caused loss of text between ff. 1F-9. There is also minor damage to the edges of some folios, but this has not caused any serious loss of text. The entire volume was conserved, probably in the 1980s, in the form of an appliqué-coated guard book.