‘Depredations committed by the Joasmee pirates in violation of the Treaty of Peace concluded with them in 1806. An expedition authorised by the Supreme Government for their suppression.’

Content

The item consists mostly of copies of correspondence, minutes and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, letters to and from the Governments of Bengal and Bombay. It concerns reports of piracy carried out by the Joasmee [ Qawasim 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. ], and the deliberations of the governments of Bombay and Bengal over the appropriate response to this issue.

The primary subjects are:

• Reports of attacks on British shipping in the Gulf by the Joasmee, including the capture of the Sylph
• The expansion of Wahabee [Wahhabi] influence in the Gulf, and the increase in piracy this has allegedly caused
• Divisions among the Joasmee, including reports that Sheikh Sultan Ben Suggur [Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi], the ruler of Ra’s al-Khaymah and Sharjah, has abandoned their cause
• Relations between Britain and the Joasmee, including a copy of a treaty made on 6 February 1806 (folios 74 recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. to 75 recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. )
• Reports of Joasmee attacks on shipping off the coast of India (including: a petition from merchants in Bombay requesting greater British protection (folios 92 recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. to 93 recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. ); a report into four dows [dhows] which had arrived at Surat (folio 105 verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. ); extracts from two letters from Sunderjee Sewjee, a merchant from Bombay, reporting Joasmee activity in the Gulf of Kutch (folios 109 recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. to 109 verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. ; and folios 113 verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. to 114 recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. ); and two letters from Mutur bin Ruhmu bin Rashid Casimee [Matar bin Rahma bin Rashid al-Qasimi], the cousin of Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, to his brother Rashid Bin Ruhmu Rashid Casimee [Rashid bin Rahma bin Rashid al-Qasimi] at Bhownuggur [Bhavnagar] (folios 147 recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. to 151 verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. ))
• The relations of Muscat with the Joasmee and the Wahabees, and a request from the Imam of Muscat for British help in resisting them
• A request from the Uttoobee [Bani Utbah] for British support
• Reports on the expansion of Wahabee influence in south Arabia and of attacks on shipping off the southern Arabian coast (including: an extract from a memoir by Mohumud Ibrahim Purkar [Ibrahim Purkar, also referred to as Mohummud Hajee Ibrahim and Moohummud Ibrahim Purkar Makhooda] (folios 131 verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. to 136 verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. ), and a letter from the Dola [Governor] of Mocha (folios 137 recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. to 138 verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. ))
• Plans for an expedition against the Joasmee, in cooperation with Muscat.

The primary correspondents are: William Money, Superintendent of the Bombay Marine The navy of the East India Company. ; David Seton, Resident at Muscat; Brigadier General John Malcolm; and Neil Benjamin Edmonstone, Chief Secretary to Government, Fort William.

The title page (f 65) of the item contains the following references: ‘Political No. 12, Season 1809/10, Draft 186’; and ‘Examiner’s Office, October and December 1809’.

Extent and format

1 item (100 folios)

Arrangement

There is no chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 65, and terminates at f 164, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: the volume also contains an original pagination sequence.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival item

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/F/4/288/6503

History of this record

Date(s)

21 Mar 1806-30 Aug 1809 (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

Related primary sources

Bombay Pol 29 Aug 1810, draft 186/1809-10, IOR/E/4/1026 pp 477-80. See also IOR/F/4/256/5646

Subjects

PiracyWahabism

People & organisations

Government of BombayResidentRuler of Ra's al-Khaymah and SharjahBombay Marine, SuperintendentSylphImam of OmanGovernment of BengalSulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-QāsimīJohn MalcolmBanī ʿUtbah (Tribe)Āl Qawāsim (Tribe)

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‘Depredations committed by the Joasmee pirates in violation of the Treaty of Peace concluded with them in 1806. An expedition authorised by the Supreme Government for their suppression.’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/F/4/288/6503, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/node/9592> [accessed 11 October 2024]

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