Affairs at Aden and Within its Vicinity, and at Hodeida

Content

This part of the volume consists of 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 4 of 1853, dated 13 January 1853. The enclosures are numbered 3-9. Enclosure numbers 3-6 are dated 12 December 1852 to 5 January 1853.

Enclosure numbers 3 and 5 consist of two letters from the 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. at Aden, Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, to the Chief Secretary to 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. . The letters report:

• The state of affairs at Aden and within its vicinity, including an incident in which a 'marauding party' of forty men of the Subiee [aṣ-Ṣubayḥī] 'tribe' attacked a kafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. [caravan] of camels and plundered the goods it was carrying
• Actions taken by Haines in response to complaints from merchants at Hodeida [Al Hudaydah] claiming British protection that they had been treated unjustly by the Turkish [Ottoman] government of Hodeida in relation to increased customs dues, and in being forcibly removed from their houses so that Turkish soldiers could be accommodated in them.

Enclosure number 5 includes enclosed copies of correspondence between Haines and the Senior Naval Officer at Aden, Charles William Montrion, and correspondence between other Indian Navy officers.

Enclosures 4 and 6 are minutes by the Governor of Bombay, directing that copies of Haines's letters be sent to the Government of India and 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. , and approving of Haines's reported actions.

Numbers 7-9, listed in the abstract of contents as copies of the Bombay Overland Times , the Bombay Overland Telegraph & Courier , and the Bombay Overland Gazette newspapers dated 13 January 1853, are noted as missing.

Extent and format

1 item (14 folios)

It is part of

‘ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY’, Vol 114

1306 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/476

Arrangement

There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-9, on folio 48. These numbers are repeated for reference on the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. of the last folio of each 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/5/476, ff 47-60

Former external reference(s)

No. 4 of 1853

History of this record

Date(s)

13 Jan 1853-c 2 Nov 1906 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Customs dutyMerchantsTheft

Places

AdenHodeida

People & organisations

Political AgentSenior Naval Officer at Aden

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Affairs at Aden and Within its Vicinity, and at Hodeida, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/476, ff 47-60, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100129828648.0x000004> [accessed 9 July 2026]

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