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 11 of 1853, dated 12 February 1853. The enclosures listed in the abstract of contents are numbered 3-6. Enclosure number 3 is dated January 1853.Enclosure number 3 is a letter from the Political Agent at Aden, Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, consisting of a general report on the state of affairs at Aden and within its vicinity, mostly concerning relations between the local tribes, in relation to the quarrel between the Foutheli [Fadhli] Sultan and the Sultan of Lahedge [Lahej or Lahij].Numbers 4-6, listed in the abstract of contents as copies of the
Bombay Overland Times, the
Bombay Overland Telegraph & Courier, and the
Bombay Overland Gazettenewspapers, dated 12 February 1853, are noted as missing.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-6, on folio 280. These numbers are repeated for reference on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure.
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 32 of 1842, dated 31 March 1842. The enclosures are dated 24 February to 31 March 1842. They consist of a general report by the Political Agent at Aden, and other correspondence, on the state of affairs in Aden and its hinterland, the Gulf of Aden, and the lower part of the Red Sea Coast.The enclosures discuss matters including:British relations with the tribes around Aden, including relations with the Sultan of Lahidge [Lahej]The reason why orders were issued deferring the transportation of fifty Irregular Horse to AdenThe recommendation of the Political Agent at Aden that two Arab prisoners, previously sent from Aden to one of the East India Company's jails in the Bombay Presidency, be sent back to Aden to be released with a warning regarding their future conductThe view of the Political Agent at Aden that it was inadvisable to send Mr Hatchatoor to again reside as an Agent at Tedjoura [Tadjoura]The Political Agent at Aden having despatched the HC [Honourable Company] schooner Constance to Mussowah [Massawa] for the purpose of obtaining information about the state of affairs in Northern Abyssinia [the Northern Ethiopian Empire] and Arabia, at the request of HM Agent and Consul General in EgyptMeasures undertaken by the Political Agent at Aden for the protection of trade on the coast of AbyssiniaThe request of the former Native Agent at Mocha, Hajee Abdool Russool [Haji Abdul Rasool], that a decision be made by the Government of Bombay regarding his case, and that he be granted an allowance until his property at Mocha is restored to himStatements of stipends granted to different Arab 'chiefs' in the interior of Aden.The primary correspondents are the Political Agent at Aden and the Secretary and Officiating Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-28, on folios 365-371. These numbers are repeated for reference on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure.
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 73 of 1850, dated 3 December 1850. The enclosures are numbered 3-7 and are dated 17 September to 20 November 1850.The papers relate to affairs in the vicinity of Muscat, including the seizure by Syed Ges bin Azan [Qays bin ‘Azzān al-Būsa‘īdī ], Chief of Sohar, of towns belonging to the Imam of Muscat [Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd].The principal correspondents are the following: the Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay; the Governor of Bombay.Physical description: 1 item (9 folios)
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 51 of 1850, dated 3 October 1850. The enclosures are numbered 1-26 and are dated 7 May-3 October 1850.The correspondence discusses affairs in the vicinity of Muscat including:Intelligence of disorder in different parts of Oman. This disorder included the taking control of settlements such as Khaboora [Al Khaburah] by local chieftains contesting the writ of the Imam of Muscat in that area.The arrival of the
Nasireefrom Zanzibar to collect troops to enable the Imam of Muscat to muster against his son, Prince Hillal [Sayyid Hilāl bin Sa‘īd Āl Bū Sa‘īd], at Lamoo [Lamu].Correspondents include the Native Agent at Muscat.Physical description: 1 item (44 folios)
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 45 of 1850, dated 31 August 1850. The enclosures are numbered 3-9 and are dated 12-22 August 1850. A note in red ink, dated 1 November 1906, states that the enclosures detailed in this abstract are missing.The correspondence discusses an infraction of an 1839 Treaty between the Imam of Muscat and the Chief of Sohar [Suhar] mediated by the Resident in the Persian Gulf.Correspondents include the Native Agent, Muscat.Physical description: 1 item (17 folios)
Abstract: This part of the volume consist of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 49 of 1850, dated 17 September 1850. The enclosures are numbered 3-8 and are dated 14 May-3 September 1850.The enclosures consist of correspondence discussing affairs in the vicinity of Muscat including:The seizure of Syed Humood bin Azan [Ḥamūd bin Azan Āl Bū Sa‘īd], the Chief of Sohar [Suhar], by Syed Soweynee [Sayyid Thuwaynī bin Sa‘īd Āl Bū Sa‘īd], the Governor of MuscatThe breaking of the treaty between the Chief of Sohar and the Imam of Muscat mediated by the Resident in the Persian GulfThe lifting of the siege of Sohar and the capture of Fort Gulla [Ghallah] belonging to the Imam of Muscat by Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur [Shaikh Sulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī]The dispatch of the steamer
Aucklandand the schooner
Constanceto the Persian Gulf stationMeasures to re-establish cordial relations between the Imam of Muscat and the family of the Chief of Sohar.Correspondents include: the Native Agent, Muscat; the Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Secret Committee; and the Governor in Council, Bombay.Physical description: 1 item (38 folios)
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 58 of 1850, dated 30 October 1850. The enclosures are numbered 3-15 and are dated 6 April-28 October 1850.The papers relate to affairs in the vicinity of Muscat including:The murder of Syed Syf bin Humood of Sohar [Sayyid Sayf bin Ḥammūd al-Bū Sa‘īdī of Suhar] by orders of his father Syed Humood bin Azan [Sayyid Ḥammūd bin ‘Azzān al-Bū Sa‘īdī], Chief of SoharReports of the seizure at Shinas of Syed Humood bin Azan of Sohar by Syed Thooweynee [Sayyid Thuwaynī bin Sa‘īd Āl Bū Sa‘īd], Governor of Muscat, in contravention of the 1839 Treaty of Commerce between the Sultan of Muscat and Zanzibar [Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd], and Great BritainReports of the departure of Sheikh Sultan bin Suggur, the Joasmee Chief [Shaikh Sulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī], with a large force to aid the Chief of Sohar, including the outcome of the expeditionTranslated copies of correspondence between the Arab parties involved and the Resident in the Persian Gulf.Correspondents include the following: Moollah Houssein [Mullā Ḥusayn], the Native Agent at Shargah [Sharjah]; the Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Commanding Officer of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf; the Governor of Muscat; the Chief of Sohar; and Sheikh Sultan bin Suggur.Physical description: 1 item (45 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 17 of 1844, dated 28 February 1844. The enclosures are dated 30 November and 28 December 1843.The enclosures chiefly comprise despatches of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Taylor, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq], to: John Pollard Willoughby, Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay; the Secretary to the Government of India; Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil, HM Chargé d'Affaires at Tehran; and Sir Stratford Canning, HM Ambassador at Constantinople [Istanbul]. They relate to Taylor’s analysis of events at Kerbela [Karbala, also spelled Kerbulla in this item] when Ottoman Turkish forces attacked and captured the town on 13 January 1843. In his despatches the Political Agent:Defends himself against complaints that he was slow in communicating news about the attack to Sir Stratford CanningStates that: accounts reaching Baghdad and Constantinople were exaggerated by both Persian and Ottoman Turkish sources; the number of Persian casualties, initially alleged as 22,000, had been vastly inflated and in reality were closer to 5000; Persian officials had committed obvious fabrications of casualty lists; the investigators sent by Sir Stratford Canning and the Porte [Government of the Ottoman Empire], and Dr Ross, the Residency Surgeon, sent to assist with treating casualties, all concluded that the casualty numbers had been exaggeratedAsserts that Najib Pacha [Muḥammad Najīb Pāshā, Governor of Baghdad] had done all that was possible to avoid an attack and to ameliorate the effects of it, and deflects accusations that he has endorsed the Pacha’s use of violenceRelates that his efforts to avert or delay the Pacha’s attack on Kerbela were unsuccessfulAlleges that ‘the rebel citizens of Kerbela’ were ‘much at fault’ and the town, with a population three-quarters Persian, had for years been anarchical and violently hostile to Ottoman rulers and officialsAsserts it is his understanding that considerable warning had also been given to the townspeople and that accounts of reputed horrors committed during the attack were untrueAsserts it is his understanding that during the Turkish advance the townspeople fired first and used poison bullets.The item also contains two despatches from Henry Creswicke Rawlinson to the Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay, and the Secretary to the Government of India, reporting his: arrival in Bagdad on 6 December 1843 to assume the duty of Political Agent in Turkish Arabia in place of Taylor; intention of avoiding any collision between himself and Lieutenant-Colonel Farrant of the Bombay Army, attached to the Persian Mission, who is investigating the attack on Kerbela and observing peace negotiations at Eerzeroom [Erzurum] between Turkey and Persia; conclusion that the recent clash between troops of the Shaikh of Chaab [Banū Ka‘b tribe] and the Governor of Dezful will not disrupt the Erzeroom [Erzurum] negotiations; dismissal of HM brig of war
Cliofrom the Bussorah [Basra] river as it is no longer required.Physical description: The enclosure numbers 3-4 are written on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure, which also contain an abstract of the contents of the enclosure.
Abstract: This item comprises one enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee [Bombay Secret Letter], No. 16 dated 27 January 1857. The enclosure is also dated 27 January 1857.The enclosure comprises a despatch, dated 22 December 1856, from Captain Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq], for the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department, consisting of copies of his two recent despatches to Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, HM Ambassador at Constantinople [Istanbul], dated 10 and 18 December 1856.The papers cover and include the following:Kemball’s recent visit to Bussorah [Basra] and his opinion that the defences recently constructed by Persia [Iran] at Mohamerah [Khorramshahr, formerly Mohammerah] need not concern the British as there are currently no signs of a Persian intention to disrupt communications in the regionConfirmation that Kemball has secured grain and cattle for fresh meat in expectation of the British expedition in the Persian GulfNotification that, in expectation of an attack in the region by the British, Sheikh Jaber, the principal chief of the Chaab [Banū Ka‘b] tribe [Shaikh Jābir bin Mirdāw al-Ka‘bī, Shaikh of Mohammerah], has approached HM Vice Consul at Bussorah, as well as Kemball, professing support of the British Government and offering his services, whilst at the same time having allegedly also approached the Ottoman Governor in case of a Turkish takeover of MohammerahKemball’s distrust of Sheikh Jaber and the tribes in the area, who he claims would ‘readily join what they believe to be the strongest party’ (f 257)A table entitled ‘Arab Tribes under Persian Authority’, detailing: names of tribes; names of shaikhs; total numbers of men; total numbers of horses, camels, sheep and cows; and any significant additional information (ff 258-259).Physical description: 1 item (10 folios)
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of a copy of an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 13 of 1853, dated 24 February 1853. The enclosure is numbered 3 and is dated 15 December 1852.The enclosure is a letter from the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq], Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay. The letter reports the arrival of the East India Company’s steam frigate
Cometat Baghdad (also spelled Bagdad in this item) on 6 December 1852, and forwards a letter addressed to Rawlinson from the Commander of the ship and Surveyor in Mesopotamia [Iraq], James Felix Jones, which includes the news of the arrival of the ship and also reports on the state of affairs in the southern part of the Baghdad Pashalic [Pashalik], including at Bussorah [Basra], Mohumrah [Khorramshahr], Hawizeh, and on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. It also discusses: tribal affairs, including the position of Saleh, the Chief of the Montefik [al-Muntafiq tribal confederation]; and the ‘slight foundation’ to the complaints made by an employee of Messrs Hector and Company in September 1852.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-3, on folios 291-292. The number 3 is repeated for reference on the verso of the last folio of the enclosure.