Letter No 44 from Ephraim Gerrish Stannus, Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire to William Newnham, Chief Secretary to the Government, Political Department, Bombay

Content

The letter is reporting to the Bombay Government that Captain Charles Sealy has captured an abandoned batilla (a small sea going vessel) in Charrack bay [Bandar-e Chārak], and notes that the Resident has recommended that it should be handed over to Sooltan bin Sugger [Sulṭān bin Saqr] so that he may investigate; the Captain himself has little doubt of the vessel's involvement in piracy.

It is also noted that the Resident believes that HMS Ariadne has issued a letter of protection in error to to the vessel (encountered at Muscat), which the British believe to have been involved in a piratical cruise.

The letter also reports that Shaikh Tannoon [Ṭaḥnūn bin Shakhbūṭ Āl Nahyān] fears that the Wahabi [Wahhabi] intend to resume piracy once the towers at Rusul Khyma [Ra's al-Khaymah] are completed; the Resident however explains that it is his opinion that the Wahabi are unlikely to be in a position to re-establish themselves on the Arabian coast any time soon.

It is further reported in the letter, that the company's agent at Sharga [Sharjah] has been subjected to disrespect from the local population since the departure of Sooltan bin Sugger; the Resident thinks this situation is most likely to be the result of instructions issued by Sooltan bin Sugger himself.

The item has two enclosures:

1 - Letter of protection issued by Captain Moorsom on board HMS Ariadne to two chilingas from Rusul Khyma, dated March 1824.

2 - Extract of a letter to Sooltan bin Sugger, dated 8 July 1824.

It is informing him of the aforementioned batilla captured in Charrack bay; that he is to have the batilla turned over to him, so that he may conduct an investigation then punish the owner and crew for disturbing the peace of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . It further notifies him that word has been received from the British's Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. at Sharga, indicating that he has not received the respect from the local population due to his station. It also explains that the Resident does not believe rumours indicating that he (Sooltan bin Sugger) conspires with the Wahhabi to disrupt the peace of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .

Extent and format

5 folios

It is part of

Vol 35: Letters Outward

292 images

Ref: IOR/R/15/1/33

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Letter

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/15/1/33, ff 9-13

History of this record

Date(s)

10 Jul 1824 (CE, Gregorian)

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Letter No 44 from Ephraim Gerrish Stannus, Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire to William Newnham, Chief Secretary to the Government, Political Department, Bombay, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/33, ff 9-13, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024054665.0x000006> [accessed 18 April 2024]

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