‘Old Index Book No 154 From January 1847 To December 1847’ Vol 154 Outward letter book, 1847

IOR/R/15/1/111

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The record is made up of 1 volume (349 folios). It was created in 17 Oct 1846-31 Dec 1847. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Content

The volume contains copies of letters sent in 1847 by Major Samuel Hennell, British Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. at Bushire, mainly to Arthur Malet, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. in the Political Department, Bombay Castle and also to Lieutenant Colonel Francis Farrant, British Chargé d’Affaires at the Court of the Shah of Persia, Tehran.

In April and May 1847, Major Hennell undertook his annual tour of the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. sheikhdoms on the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , aboard the Honourable Company (HC) sloop of war Elphinstone (folios 110-135). During Hennell’s absence from the British Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Bushire, his official correspondence was carried out by Lieutenant Arnold Burrowes Kemball, the Assistant Resident (folios 90-109).

The correspondence in the volume is predominantly political, reporting events in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in terms of their significance for British foreign policy, relations and interests in the region. The main topics are the suppression of piracy and slave trafficking in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and the monitoring of relations between the Arab Maritime Chiefs of the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. . Many of the Resident’s letters to the Bombay Government refer to enclosures, several of which are present in the volume. These are mainly English translations of the Resident’s Arabic and Persian correspondence with agents, officials and rulers, including:

  • Hussein Khan the Governor of Fars about piracy in the Persian ports of the Gulf, also a legal dispute at Bushire between a British protected person and Prince Timor Meerza (Mirza) over ownership of the private property and estate of a deceased Persian subject (folios 17-18, 94-97, 108-109);
  • Chiefs of the Persian ports of Aseloo and Khirrak [Khārk] about their acts of piracy in the Province of Fars and on the island of Karrack [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye] (folios 113, 114, 200, 202);
  • Chiefs of the Persian ports of Charrack [Khārk] and Mogoo about their naval warfare directly in the track of trading vessels between Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. , Persia and India (folios 303-305);
  • Moollah Houssein the British Government Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. at Shargah [Sharjah] reports the hostile actions of Shaikhs Saeed bin Tahnoon of Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi], Syed Humood bin Azan of Sohar, Sultan bin Suggur of Rusul Khyma, Muktoom of Debaye [Dubai], Abdoollah bin Rashid of Amulgavine (folios 30-32, 64-67, 191-192, 234-236);
  • Khojeh Hiskael the British Government Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. at Muscat reports the continuance of the African slave trade, especially by the inhabitants of Soor [Sūr], also an exchange of letters between the Resident and Syed Soweynee the Governor of Muscat, about the seizure of Muscat slave ships by the British naval force, under the terms of the Treaty between the British Government and the Imam of Muscat dated 2 October 1845 (folios 280-281, 312-313);
  • Sheikh Mahomed bin Khuleefa the Chief of Bahrein and Shaikh Esai ben Tareef the Chief of Bidda exchange letters with the Resident following the outbreak of hostilities between them over the latter’s support for the renewed claims of Sheikh Abdoollah bin Ahmed the ex-Chief of Bahrein, for restoration of his vessels and possessions (folios 287-290);
  • Hajee Jassem the British Government Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. at Bahrain reports the death of Shaikh Esai ben Tareef the Chief of Bidda in a battle between his forces and those of Shaikh Mahomed ben Khuleefa the Chief of Bahrein, the latter supported by troops sent by Ameer Fysul the Ruler of Nedgd (folios 307-309).

Many personnel, financial and other administrative matters are also reported by the Resident to officials in other departments of the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. . Included is a letter to the Paymaster of the Marine Battalion, Bombay, enclosing a list of names entitled ‘Roll of individuals belonging to the Marine Battalion and the amount to be paid to each or his heirs for the property plundered by the inhabitants of the Island of Kenn from the wreck of the “Emily” schooner in March 1845’ (folios 171-173, 193).

Extent and format
1 volume (349 folios)
Arrangement

The letters are arranged more or less chronologically. Most letters are either followed by copies or extracts from earlier letters that were enclosed with them or, are followed by a cross-reference to other page numbers in the volume, to see the enclosures mentioned. The index at the back of the volume (folios 337-349) is a chronological list of the contents, together with their original page number.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the contents are numbered 2-241, 241A, 242-327 from the front to the back of the volume. The numbering is written in pencil on the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. , in the top right corner and encircled. The front cover of the volume is numbered 1. The inside of the back cover is numbered 351. Folios 2, 328-336 and 350 are blank.

Pagination: the contents were originally numbered 1 to 652, from the front to the back of the volume. The numbering is written in ink in the top right or left corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. and verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. respectively.

Condition: broken spine cover.

Written in
English in Latin script
Type
Letter book

Archive information for this record

Access & Reference

Original held at
British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference
IOR/R/15/1/111

History of this record

Date(s)
17 Oct 1846-31 Dec 1847 (CE, Gregorian)

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‘Old Index Book No 154 From January 1847 To December 1847’ Vol 154 Outward letter book, 1847, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/111, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x000054> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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