Vol 166 ‘1850 No.3. Political Department Bushire Resident English Records Arabian Coast of Persian Gulf’

Content

The volume contains letters written mainly in 1850 and a few letters written in December 1849. Most letters are from Lieutenant-Colonel 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. , Bushire to Arthur Malet, Chief Secretary to Government, Political Department, Bombay. The British Political Resident’s letters provide the Governor in Council of the Bombay Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. with an up to date account of affairs in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and usually enclose copies of other, relevant official correspondence, including:

• English translations of numerous Arabic letters regularly received by the 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. from Moollah Houssein and Hajee Jassem, the British 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. native agents Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. at Shargah [Sharjah] and Bahrein [Bahrain] respectively, reporting events and intelligence gathered in their territories;
• English translations of five Arabic letters from the Chiefs of Bahrein [Bahrain] and Sohar [Ṣuḥār] in Oman, to the 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 response to the latter’s demands or proposals (folios 23-24, 61-63, 81, 93-94);
• Transcripts of four letters received by the 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. from Commodore Porter, Commander of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. aboard the ship Clive and Lieutenant Alexander Foulerton, commanding the ship Mahi, reporting on their patrols and intercepts at sea in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (folios 13, 15-16, 35-38).

The letters written by the 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. , the British 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. native agents Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. and the Indian naval officers contain reports mainly about the following: acts of piracy and other hostilities committed by rival Bedowin [Bedouin] tribes, relations between the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. chiefs and the success of Indian naval peace-keeping boat patrols along the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , in accordance with treaty obligations. The Indian naval boats were expected to prevent attacks by sea upon the Arabian Ports of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and to suppress all acts of maritime aggression against the crews, cargoes and slaves of trading vessels. The specific events in 1850 that are reported and discussed in this volume of letter correspondence include:

• The siege of the town of Sohar by Syed Soweynee, the Governor of Muscat, following the resumption of power by Syed Humood ben Azan, the deposed Chief of Sohar (folios 17, 22-29, 31-33, 35-36);
• The piracy of Soheil ben Ateish (folios 15-16, 20-21, 44-45, 87-98);
• Renewal of aggressions at sea between the inhabitants of Debaye [Dubai] and Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi] who steal each other’s slaves and boats, and the demands of the 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. that rival chiefs Sheik Mukhtoom of Debaye [Āl Maktūm, Shaikh Buṭṭī bin Suhayl, Chief of Dubai] and Sheik Saeed ben Tahnoon of Aboothabee [Shaikh Said bin Tahnun Āl Nahyān, Chief of Abu Dhabi] should intervene to ensure that reparations are made (folios 15-16, 18-19);
• Plans of Sheik Mukhtoom, Chief of Debaye and Sheik Sultan ben Suggur, Chief of Shargah [Āl Qāsimī One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , Shaikh Sulṭān bin Saqr, Chief of Sharjah] to rebuild Adeed [Khor al-Udaid] and the steps taken by Sheik Saeed ben Tahnoon, Chief of Aboothabee to prevent it (folios 11-12);
• Plans of Ameer Fysul [Amir Faisal bin Turki], Chief of the Wahabee to organise a military expedition to rebuild Adeed, the reaction of Sheik Mahomed ben Khuleefa, Chief of Bahrein [Āl Khalīfah, Shaikh Muḥammed bin Khalīfah, Chief of Bahrain] and the opposition of Sheik Saeed ben Tahnoon, Chief of Aboothabee to the Ameer’s plans (folios 15-16, 18-19, 30, 57-60);
• Aggressions against the territories of the Imam of Muscat, in particular the siege and conquest of the Fortress of Shinas by the forces of Syed Humood ben Azan, Chief of Sohar and Sheik Sultan ben Suggur, Chief of Shargah (folios 39-43);
• The demands of the 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. that Sheik Mahomed ben Khuleefa, Chief of Bahrein should strictly control the licensing of Bahrein boats in order to prevent acts of piracy and also, that he should make reparation for a Karrack [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye] boat, cargo and crew captured by a party of the Huwajir Tribe of Bedouins, using a boat they had obtained in Bahrein (folios 46-58, 61-65, 68-69, 77-82);
• The fears of Sheik Mahomed ben Khuleefa, Chief of Bahrein that fugitive members of the Uttobee Tribe of Arabs resident on Kenn Island [Kish Island] were planning to attack Bahrein and also the mediation of his brother, Sheik Ally [Āl Khalīfah, Shaikh ‘Alī bin Khalīfah] over the demand by the 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. that the ruler of Bahrein should make a public apology for his insulting remarks about the British Government (folios 55-60, 70-76);
• The mediation of the 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. over a proposed arrangement whereby Sheik Mahomed ben Khuleefa, Chief of Bahrein would pay an annual allowance to his cousins, the two impoverished sons of the late ex-Chief of Bahrein, Sheik Abdoollah ben Ahmed [Āl Khalīfah, Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad], on condition that they would dwell quietly on Kenn Island and give up all further schemes and claims against Bahrein (folios 85-86, 93-96);
• Negotiations by Sheik Mahomed ben Khuleefa, Chief of Bahrein with the Shereef of Mecca [Sharif of Mecca], for Turkish protection of his territories, a policy the 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. fears other maritime Arab Chiefs might adopt (folios 83-84).

Title page (folio 2): the following words in the title, ‘Department’, ‘Residency’ and ‘on’ are no longer complete. Damage along the right hand edge of the title page has obliterated part of these words. File cover title (folio 1): the abbreviated title ‘Book 166 Part 3 1850’ is written on the front cover of the volume.

Extent and format

1 volume (98 folios)

Arrangement

The letters in the volume are arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the letters in the volume are numbered 3-13, 14, 14A, 15-99, from front to back. The front cover of the volume is numbered 1 and the title page is numbered 2. The numbering is written in pencil in the top right hand side corner, on the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of every folio.

The 37 letters in the volume were originally numbered in ink and in most cases, on both 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'. of every folio, in the top right or left hand corner respectively, as follows: 3-20, 25-39, 41-55, 60, 62-85, 90, 94-115, 129-152, 156-169, 181-192, 197-200, 210-213, 222-231, 236-242, 254-258. Some of the gaps in the number sequence are due to the fact that blank folios and folios containing address details were not numbered.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Letter book

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/15/1/120

Former external reference(s)

Vol 166

History of this record

Date(s)

23 Dec 1849-21 Dec 1850 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Military operations

Places

Kenn IslandAboothabeeDabayeSoharShinas FortAdeedKarrack (island)

People & organisations

Chief of SoharNative Agent, BahrainEmir of Abu Dhabi, Āl Nahyān dynastyKing of BahrainEmir of Dubai, Āl Maktūm dynastyGovernor of MuscatAmir Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah Āl Sa'ūdSoheil bin AteishBanī Hājir (Tribe)

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Vol 166 ‘1850 No.3. Political Department Bushire Resident English Records Arabian Coast of Persian Gulf’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/120, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x00005d> [accessed 24 April 2024]

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