Turkish Arabia Affairs

Content

This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch 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] Secret Department to the Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. , Number 26 of 1844, dated 25 March 1844. The enclosures are dated 23 January-11 February 1844.

The enclosures comprise despatches of Major Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in 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. [Ottoman Iraq], to John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government, Bombay, and for the attention of the Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General, with associated enclosures, including a letter from Rawlinson to Sir Stratford Canning, HM Ambassador at Constantinople [Istanbul]. The principal matters covered are:

• Arrangements for postal communications between the Bagdad [Baghdad] Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and the Government of India to be transmitted via Egypt and Damascus, utilising the private dâk [post] between Beyrout [Beirut] and Bagdad used by British merchants, due to the slow and irregular communications between India and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
• The dispute between Turkey and Persia regarding Mohamerah [Khorramshahr], notably a lengthy memorandum by Rawlinson, dated 6 January 1844, giving an account of the early and modern history of the territory and the tribes within it (ff 444-480)
• Apparent atrocities committed by the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Moosel [Mosul] against the Nestorian Christians of the Kurdish mountains, and resumption of the Nestorian Commission (temporarily delayed due to the death of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Moosel) sent to investigate the incident
• Persian-Turkish tensions, including slow progress of treaty negotiations at Erzeroom [Erzurum]
• Unrest amongst Persian-Kurdish tribes on the frontier with Turkey and inability of Nejib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Muḥammad Najīb Pāshā, Governor of Baghdad] to prevent local Turkish retaliation against Kurdish ‘depredations’
• The application by Nejib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. for use of the HC [Honourable Company's] steamer of war Nitocris to help suppress the ‘refractory’ Arab tribe inhabiting the marshes on the banks of the Euphrates River, and Rawlinson’s reluctance to interfere and referral of the matter to Sir Stratford Canning
• The pretensions to independence (from the Ottoman Porte) expressed by the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Suliemaniah [Sulaymaniyah] and Rawlinson’s view that Britain should not support it.

Extent and format

1 item (51 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY', Vol 66

1288 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/428

Arrangement

The enclosure numbers 3-4 are written on the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. of the last folio of each enclosure, which also contain an abstract of the contents of the enclosure.

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/L/PS/5/428, ff 437-487

History of this record

Date(s)

25 Mar 1844 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Postal servicesPeace treatiesTerritorial disputesFrontiersAtrocities

Places

SuliemaniahMohammerahMosul

People & organisations

Governor of BaghdadGovernment of Bombay, Chief SecretaryHM Ambassador to the Ottoman EmpireGovernment of IndiaPolitical Agent

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Turkish Arabia Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/428, ff 437-487, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100123607107.0x000002> [accessed 1 August 2026]

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