Aden Affairs

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. 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 54 of 1843, dated 18 July 1843. The enclosures are numbered 3-43 and are dated 21 March to 17 July 1843.

The enclosures mostly consist of correspondence, minutes of the Governor of Bombay subscribed to by the Board, and audits of disbursements, relating to affairs of Aden and the Northeast African coast. They concern matters including:

• 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, Stafford Bettesworth Haines, reporting that relations between the Arab tribes in the neighbourhood of Aden continue to be ‘tranquil’, that supplies into Aden are plentiful, and that the three convicts who escaped from confinement had not yet been apprehended
• Haines reporting the return of the Honourable Company’s brig of war Tigris from Zanzibar and the north-east coast of Africa, and submitting a report by the commander of the Tigris , Lieutenant William Christopher, of his proceedings
• The approval of the Governor of Bombay in Council of Christopher’s proceedings
• 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. enquiring of the Government of India whether there is any objection 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. publishing a portion of the journal which would promote commerce with the places at which Christopher ‘met with a friendly reception’
• Haines making a requisition on the Senior Naval Officer at Aden, Lieutenant Young, for the services of one of the Honourable Company’s vessels of war to proceed to Mussowah [Massawa or Mitsiwa], and from there to visit all ports along the Northeast African coast as far as Bunder Gassim [Bosaso]
• The proposal of the Governor of Bombay in Council, George Arthur, for the reduction of the Garrison at Aden by the withdrawal to Bombay of the detachment of the 16th Regiment Native Infantry, without relief
• Haines submitting the names of persons who have received grants of land for building upon at Aden, his opinion that those people are hesitant to erect permanent buildings until a final decision has been passed by Government regarding the camp limits at Aden, and his proposals for the amount of Quit Rent to be levied
• An investigation by Haines into the conduct of the Aden Police Jemedar [Jemadar], and a party of Police, resulting in the Jemedar being found not guilty of theft, but guilty of assault on the Duffedar [ Dafadar A Non-Commissioned Officer in the Indian Cavalry. ] of the Poona [Pune] Auxiliary Horse, Bahadoor Singh [Bahādur Singh], and the opinion of the Governor of Bombay in Council on the punishment which should have been imposed on the Jemedar
• Audits by the Civil Auditor, Bombay, Edward Eden Elliot, on the disbursements of 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 during the periods May to October 1841, 1 November 1841 to 31 January 1842, and 1 February to 31 April 1842
• 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. commenting on certain items in Haines’s disbursements and cautioning him to limit his expenditure on the entertainment of different ‘Chiefs’ visiting Aden, and on presents given to visiting ‘Chiefs’, as much as possible
• Haines being informed 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. that it does not approve of the tone of a letter from him, in which he provides an explanation for expenditure on the entertainment of ‘Chieftains’ visiting Aden, and on presents for them
• Haines’s explanation, requested 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 debiting to Government 250 Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. per month for the salary of Shaik Tyeb Ibrahimjee [Shaikh Ṭayyib Ibrāhīmjī, also spelled Sheikh Tyeb Ibramjee in this item] during the period he was employed as Coal Agent at Aden, and also charging to Government the same rate of salary when Shaik Tyeb Ibrahimjee was sent by Haines to Maculla [Mukalla] to purchase provisions.

The main correspondents are the following: Haines; 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. , L R Reid; the 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. , John Pollard Willoughby; Lieutenant William Christopher, commanding the Honourable Company’s brig of war Tigris ; and HM Consul and Honourable Company’s Agent in the Dominions of the Imaum [Imām] of Muscat, Captain Atkins Hamerton. Other correspondents include Seid ibn Sultan [Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd], Imaum of Muscat.

Extent and format

1 item (219 folios)

It is part of

‘ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY’, Vol 60

1260 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/422

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/5/422, ff 407-625

Former external reference(s)

No. 54 of 1843

History of this record

Date(s)

18 Jul 1843 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Audit of accountsNaval operationsWagesExpenditureBuilding constructionAssault

Places

Horn of AfricaAden

People & organisations

Political AgentCommander of the brigantine TigrisĀl Bū Sa'īd dynasty, Imam of Muscat and OmanPolitical Agent and Consul, Zanzibar

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Aden Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/422, ff 407-625, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100141196781.0x000003> [accessed 21 August 2026]

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