‘Report of Mr Forbes the Agent at Mocha relative to Mr Mungo Park.’

Content

This item consists mostly of copies of correspondence cited in, or enclosed with, letters to and from 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. [Mumbai]. The primary subjects are:

• Reports of the appearance of a lone European in Abyssinia [the Ethiopian Empire] who is travelling in the direction of the Red Sea, and the suggestion that he could be Mungo Park, the missing explorer
• The reports collected by Captain Henry Rudland, Resident at Mocha (also called Agent for the British Government in the Gulph [Gulf] of Arabia in the item), regarding the sightings of this European and of his whereabouts, including information provided by the explorer Nathaniel Pearce
• The efforts of Rudland to provide assistance to the European, including requests to Ras Welleta Sellasie [Ras Wolde Selassie], Governor of Tigre [Tigray] and to Currumchund, a merchant at Massowah [Massawa] to provide assistance should they encounter him
• Efforts to ascertain the veracity of reports regarding the European in Abyssinia and to secure his release should he be detained, and the scepticism of Theodore Forbes, Agent at Mocha (also called Agent in the Gulph of Arabia in the item), regarding the reports.

The primary correspondents are: Captain Henry Rudland; Nathaniel Pearce; and Theodore Forbes.

The title page (f 95) of the item contains the following references: ‘Bombay Political No. 5, Season 1815/16, Draft 315’; and ‘Examiner’s Office, August 1815’.

Extent and format

1 item (26 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the item.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at 95, and terminates at 120, 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 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/4/479/11531

History of this record

Date(s)

20 Oct 1810-1 Nov 1814 (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

Related primary sources

Bombay Pol 11 Oct 1816, draft 315/1815-16, IOR/E/4/1034 p 644. See also IOR/F/4/432/10537

Subjects

Missing personsGeographical exploration

Places

TigreAbyssiniaMassowah Harbour

People & organisations

Government of BombayGovernor of TigrayResidentPolitical AgentNathaniel PearceMungo Park

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‘Report of Mr Forbes the Agent at Mocha relative to Mr Mungo Park.’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/F/4/479/11531, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000001714.0x0003e0> [accessed 11 August 2026]

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