Aden 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. 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 86 of 1841, dated 29 October 1841. The enclosures are dated 18 April 1839-25 October 1841.

The principal correspondents are: Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, 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. , Aden; the Officiating Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay; and the Secretary to the Government of India. Also included are numerous enclosures and minutes of the Governor and President in Council, Bombay, subscribed to by the Board.

The papers notably cover and include the following:

• A description by Haines of the disruption to kafilas [camel caravans, also spelled kafilahs in this item] of supplies entering Aden ‘in consequence of the continued revengeful, and insulting conduct of the Fouthelee [Faḍlī] and Abdalee ['Abdalī] Tribes’ (f 521), and the Government of Bombay’s agreement to his request for permission to stop supplies by sea entering the ports of any ‘chief’ who is ‘decidedly hostile’ to the British Government, provided there is the naval means to enforce a blockade
• A report of the expulsion from Aden of a ‘suspicious’ caravan, under Sheik Mahomed Hyder [Shaikh Muḥammad Ḥaydar] of the Abdalee tribe, and the thwarting of a surprise attack by ‘a body of Arabs’ (f 528) on the ‘outwork’ at the Turkish Wall, including copy of an account of the incident by the officer in charge of the Turkish Wall Out Post (ff 525-533)
• Papers relating to measures ordered by Haines subsequent to his receipt of permission 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. to act on the offensive against tribes accused of attacking and disrupting the kafilahs bound for Aden. Included are: Haines’s account of the surprise British attack involving the demolition of the town of Newbut Maaidee [Nawbat Mahdi, also spelled Maidee and Mahdee in this item] purportedly the rendezvous point of the Fouthelee ‘chiefs’ planning attacks on Aden, and the destruction of the guard post allegedly erected at Sheik Othman [Ash Shaykh ‘Uthmān, also spelled Shaick in this item] to ‘molest’ the kafilahs bound for Aden (ff 538-542); and copies of Haines’s correspondence with Lieutenant-Colonel William Croker Commanding the Aden force, with related accounts of officers present during the operations (ff 543-551)
• Agreement of the Governor-General of India with the Governor in Council, Bombay, to increase the police establishment at Aden, and the arrangements to be made by the Superintendent of Police and the Military Board, Bombay, and the Superintendent of the Indian Navy to despatch ten volunteers from the Bombay Police, and equip them with swords and belts (ff 561-570)
• Instructions issued in October 1841 by 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. for sending ‘as an experiment’, twenty or thirty Hindoo [Hindu] convicts to Aden to work on the roads, fortifications and public buildings, including guidance regarding clothing and diet for convicts (ff 616-618). The instructions and tables of guidance are preceded by: copies of correspondence, dated April-November 1839 and July-August 1840, between 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 Government of India, the Acting Advocate-General, Bombay, and the Superintendent of Police, Bombay, regarding the legality of sending to Aden fifty convicts to be employed on the construction of the public roads, tanks, etc., in connection with a request by Haines (ff 572-605); an analysis by the Acting Advocate-General of the law in relation to transportation sentences (ff 579-588); a memorandum by the Political Secretary, Bombay, summarizing relevant correspondence and decisions up to October 1841; and a letter from the Advocate-General, Bombay, confirming that convicts sent to Aden could afterwards be legally sent to another (British) settlement
• A report of a visit to Mussawah [Massawa] by Lieutenant Willmott Christopher, commanding the HC [Honourable Company’s] schooner Constance , forwarded to Haines by the Senior Naval Officer at Aden, (ff 623-629), covering affairs in the vicinity including French activities and influence
• The report by Mr J Hatchatoor, the British Agent at Tedjoura [Tadjoura], of the murder of three of his servants and the hostility of the ‘chief’ of that place (ff 636-638), and Haines’s despatch of the Euphrates to assist in finding the perpetrators and to convey Hatchatoor and his staff to Aden
• Papers and correspondence relating to the misdirection to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] of a packet (mail) from Haines, on the steamer Seaforth , including instructions to 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. that future despatches intended for 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. should be sent separately from those intended for distribution by the General Post Office at Bombay, and the Government of Bombay’s recommendation that the post office clerk responsible be fined one month’s salary (ff 648-657)
• Memorandum by the Officiating Chief Secretary, Bombay, regarding the packets from Calcutta [Kolkata], intended for England by the October mail steamer Cleopatra , which reached the Bombay Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. a day after the steamer’s departure for Suez (ff 660-665)
• Memorandum by the Governor-General of India 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. (ff 668-672) which: describes ‘the various insults and injuries sustained by the British Government, its servants and subjects at the hands of the present Shariff [Sharīf] of Mocha’; explains the reasons why no action has been taken up until now, including the lack of naval means, failure of the posited overthrow of the Governor of Mocha by the Imam of Senna, and political difficulties in requesting the removal of an official who is endorsed by the government (Ottoman Porte) of a British ally; and proposes that Captain Grey commanding HMS Endymion visit Mocha to inform the Shariff of how seriously his proceedings are viewed by the Government of India and to attempt to obtain redress without resorting to ‘actual hostility’.

Extent and format

1 item (175 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY,' Vol 36

1365 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/398

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/5/398, ff 505-679

Former external reference(s)

No. 86 of 1841

History of this record

Date(s)

29 Oct 1841 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Forced labourConvictsTransportation of prisonersSuppliesPolice personnelMilitary operationsHomicide

Places

AdenMochaTedjouraMussawah

People & organisations

Political AgentBritish AgentGovernor of MochaAdvocate GeneralGovernment of BombayGovernment of India

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Aden Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/398, ff 505-679, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100139592730.0x000003> [accessed 16 May 2024]

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