‘Letters from India (Secret Dept)’, Vol. 13 [170v] (349/1978)
The record is made up of 1 volume (983 folios). It was created in 19 Jan 1871-27 Dec 1872. It was written in English, French, Persian and Russian. The original is part of the 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
thp El Hawaii!', who seem to have at least tolerated Salim s presence for a
time It is however, not true that this tribe were engaged m hostilities with the-
Jenebeh on Salim’s behalf. It does not appear they were willing to take up
arms for him.
5 Prom Jenah Syud Salim sent messages to the tribes ot boor with
the ohiect of setting possession of that place. Instead of joining him, the inha
bitants that if S of the Jenebeh tribe, secured the Eort, avowedly to prevent
“s admission "hough also, no doubt, to he masters of the situation.
6 On the 23rd His Highness reached Soor. His arrival was opportune,
and decided the fate of Soor. Syud Salem immediately fled to the villages of
the Beni-boo Hasan tribe, where he was accorded residence, though his reception
is said to have been cold. His Highness remained four days at Soor arranging
for its security, and then returned in a small boat to Muscat, where he arrived
11 , 9011 , .,tw having undergone much fatigue, having walked on one occa-
ZfupwaL of fiftlSles? °His MinisteAnd Guard, and his ship, the
Uahmanee, returned subsequently.
7 Un to the present date nothing fresh has transpired as to Salim s posi-
,■ 'a Josueots He is still amongst the Beni-hoo Hasan m Jaalan, hut his
tods aJeCd to amount to only five hundred dollars and as yet no active
movement has occurred in his favor. His Highness and his advisers consider
“a im's attempt a failure, and that as soon as his money is exhausted he will he
forced to leave the country. The tribes they assert, are influenced only by
mercenary considerations, as proof of which they cite the case of His Highness,
“ho though on his arrival in Oman was very popular was abandoned by the
tribes most friendly as soon as his money was done. It seems he had to pawn
Ms arms amongst the Arabs, and that some such articles are unrecovered still.
Salim, on the other hand, they say, is not personally hked and the conclusion
is drawn that Salim will in like manner, and more readily, he forsaken by any
friends he may have.
8. There is probably much justice in this reasoning, though its soundness
depends on the truth of the terms stated, and it does not embrace all considera
tions. It seems to me that the statement of the mercenary self-seeking charac
ter the Oman Arabs are acquiring is not unjust, but actuated by such feelings
they find the presence of a rival Prince an excellent means of extorting money
for their good will, as well from the man in power as from the aspirant. Such
is the key to the security of Ibrahim at Sohar, and there is some possibility of
a similar use being made of Salim. It is a fact that since Salim s lan mg
deputations from various tribes are constantly coming m to His Highness, expect
ing of course to he rewarded for apparent zeal. It was stated to me yesterday
by a well-informed person of the Al-boo Saeed of some position, that he
heard some of these visitors proposing to ask Syud Toorkee to assign Soor o
Salim as his residence, on their guarantee to keep him quiet; you will at once
see what that move would mean.
9. The present position of affairs is unpromising. Sohar is held by
Ibrahim, Beraymee by a Nejdian, supposed to be m the interest of Saood,
Bostak by Pysul bin Hamood; Salim is in the south endeavouring to raise the tribes,
whilst of the Mekran ports formerly possessed by Muscat, one is m the hands
of Abdool Azeez and the other lately seized by the Persians. Under
present political state and temper of the tribes of Oman to hope lor
spontaneous unity under a Prince of their choice would he utopian.
10. Her Majesty’s Lynx arrived on 1st March, and saluted His High
ness’ flag.
Telegram dated 24th February 1872.
From—Political Agent, Muscat,
To— Colonel Felly, Bushire, via Gwadur.
Muscat, twenty-fourth. Salim landed coast near Soor. Muscat Govern
ment addressing you appealing against apprehended Persian seizure Charbar.
' 2
About this item
- Content
Government of India Foreign Department letters marked ‘Secret’, ‘General’, or ‘Political’ and sent to His Grace the Duke of Argyll, Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for India, with enclosures. The papers are reporting on the state of affairs in a number of regions including: the Khanate of Khiva, the Khanate of Khelat [Kalat], Afghanistan, Persia [Iran], Yemen, Nejd [Najd], Oman, Zanzibar, and 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. .
The correspondence related to the state of affairs in Oman and Zanzibar [Sultanate of Muscat and Oman] covers: the violation of the rights of British subjects at Sohar [Suhar] by Ibrahim bin Ghes [Ibrāhīm bin Qais Āl Bū Sa‘īd, Governor of Sohar]; ‘the application of Seyd Toorkee [Sayyid Turkī bin Sa‘īd Āl Bū Sa‘īd] for payment of the Zanzibar subsidy’; ‘the alleged importation of slaves on the Arabian Coast under the French flag’ from Zanzibar; the hostilities by sea between Syed Ibrahim bin Ghes and the Sooltan [Sulṭān] of Muscat; the re-lease of the Customs Revenue of Zanzibar by Syud Burgash bin Saeed bin Sooltan [Sayyid Barghash bin Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān]; and ‘An account of the Tenets of the IBADHI Sect of ‘Oman’, translated from an Arabic manuscript work by 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 Muscat.
The correspondence related to the state of affairs in the Khanate of Khelat covers: a raid committed from Khelat territory into Persian territory by a Persian subject; the demarcation of the Perso-Khelat boundary; the disputes between the Khan of Khelat and his nobles; the Marri [also spelled in the volume as Murree] and Bogtee [Bugti] tribes’ activities; trade routes and trading activities; proposed measures for preserving the peace of the Sind [Sindh] frontier; and petitions raised by a number of Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. from Khelat.
The correspondence contains copies of Cabul [Kabul] diaries reporting on the state of affairs in Afghanistan. The diaries include news on the deputation of an envoy from the Khan of Khiva to the Amir of Afghanistan, Sher Ali Khan [Shīr ‘Alī Khān, also spelled in the volume as Shere]; the spread of cholera; military operations; the appointment and dismissal of local governors; the Budukshan [Badakhshan, also spelled in the volume as Badakshan] affair; the boundary between Afghanistan and Bokhara [Bukhara]; relations between Afghanistan and the Russian Empire; and correspondence between the Governor General of Russian Toorkistan [Turkestan] and the Amir in relation to border affairs.
The correspondence contains news reports of affairs at Aden covering: the spread of cholera at Aden and Hodeida [Al Hudaydah]; the attack on Hodeida by the Arab tribe of Asseerees [‘Asīr]; accounts of the trade routes leading to Aden and the principal tribes in the neighbourhood with which the Government of India have treaty relations; the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Aden, Major-General Charles William Tremenheere, visiting Lahej territory; the advance of Turkish troops in Yemen; reports of incidents on board British ships; military action towards the Munsooree [Al-Manṣūrī, also al-Manāṣīr] and the Soobaihee [al-Ṣabīha, also spelled in the volume as Soobahees] tribes of Yemen; an agreement signed between the Soobaihee chiefs of Yemen and the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Aden related to roads safety; a detailed ‘report of the Arab tribes and the vicinity of Aden’ prepared by Captain William Francis Prideaux, Assistant to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Aden; and an agreement signed between the tribe of the Foodthlees [al-Faḍlī] of Yemen and the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Aden.
Other topics covered in the volume are:
- The military operations of Russia in Central Asia
- ‘The subject of the sovereignty of Kohuk [Kuhak, also spelled in the volume as Kuak]’ with detailed description of the Perso-Baloch frontier
- The employment by the Ottoman Government of an English diver, James Thomas, in seeking for pearls on the Arab Coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
- ‘Complaint made by the Persian Government of instructions having been issued to Her Majesty’s representative at Gwadur [Gwadar] to recognise Charbar [Chah-Bahar, a town on the Makran coast of Persian Baluchistan] as belonging to Muscat’
- ‘A piratical attack on the British India Steam Navigation Company’s steam ship Cashmere at Busreh [Basra, also spelled in the volume as Busrah]’
- The claim of Hajee Moosa Meymennee [Ḥājī Mūsa Mīmanī, also spelled in the volume as Meymenee], a British Indian subject, to compensation for ‘the wheat supplied by him to the people of Bushire [Bushehr] under a compulsory order of the Persian Government’
- ‘The infraction of the interdict on the export of grain and provisions from Persian ports’
- An account by Dr David Livingstone, Her Majesty’s Consul in Inner Africa, of his explorations in Central Africa
- ‘The trade between India and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and the proposal for a new Commercial Treaty with Persia’
- The dispute between Turkey and Bahrein [Bahrain] concerning the murder of a Turkish messenger, and other Bahrein Affairs
- The Turkish expedition to Nejd
- News of the arrival and departure of ships at Kateef [Qatif], Ojair [Al-Uqayr], Ras Tanoorah [Ras Tanura] and other ports
- The request of Messrs Gray, Paul and Company for permission to place steam barges at Bushire for the purpose of landing and shipping cargo
- Relations between the Russian authorities and the Turkoman tribes
- ‘Captain St. John’s explorations in Persia, and containing information on certain points of Persian geography’
- The arbitral opinion given by Major General on special mission Frederick John Goldsmid, in the matter of the Seistan [Sistan] arbitration
- News of appointments of British Agents and other officials in various locations in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Afghanistan.
Among the main correspondents in the volume are: Charles Umpherston Aitchison, the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department; D C Macnabb, Officiating Commissioner and Superintendent, Peshawur [Peshawur] Division; C Alison, Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister at Teheran [Tehran]; Ronald Thomson, Her Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires at Teheran; Colonel C Herbert, Her Majesty’s 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 Baghdad; H LePoer Wynne, Under Secretary to the Government of India; Captain G J Stevens, Commandant, Aden Troop; Colonel Lewis Pelly, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; Dr John Kirk, Acting 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. and Her Majesty’s Consul at Zanzibar; Major Edward Charles Ross, Her Majesty’s 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. and Consul at Muscat; Captain C Grant, Assistant Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and Captain C H Harrison, 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 Khelat.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (983 folios)
- Arrangement
The Letters and Enclosures are filed in chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume. The volume includes an index on folios 4-91. Entries in the index refer to entries in the volume, in accordance with the pagination system on folios 92-982. Many of the correspondences consist of the Despatch, an Abstract of Contents, and the Enclosures to the Despatch, each numbered in accordance with the number given in the Abstract of Contents. The Enclosures to each Despatch are in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 985; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Pagination: the volume also contains an intermittent pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English, French, Persian and Russian in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/5/271
- Title
- ‘Letters from India (Secret Dept)’, Vol. 13
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge , head, tail, front-i, 2r:95r, 97r:114v, 116r:121v, 122v:123v, 125r:135r, 136v:137r, 138v:140v, 142r:146v, 147ar:147av, 148r:150v, 151v:158r, 159r:168r, 170r:170v, 171v:172v, 173v:174r, 177r, 178r:184v, 186r, 189r:189v, 192r, 194r, 196r, 198r:198v, 200v:203v, 204v:208r, 210r:223r, 224r:229v, 230v:240v, 242r, 243r:269v, 270v:271v, 273r:274v, 275v:280v, 282v:289r, 291r:301v, 303r, 304r:310v, 311v:314v, 316r:328r, 329v:351v, 352v:368r, 370v:386v, 388r:391v, 393r:394r, 395v:409r, 410v, 414v:421r, 422v:424v, 426r:438r, 439v:457v, 458v, 460r:466r, 467r:472v, 474v:480r, 483v:484v, 486r:490v, 492r, 493v:498r, 499r:540v, 542r:547r, 549r:554r, 556v:561r, 565r:569v, 571r:584r, 585r:599v, 601r:607v, 609v:616v, 618r:626v, 629r:633v, 635r:648r, 652r:670v, 671v:673v, 675r:714v, 715v, 716v:742r, 743r:749v, 751r:751v, 754v:779v, 780v:785v, 786v:791v, 803r:806v, 812r:825r, 826r:828r, 829v:832r, 833v:834v, 836r, 837r:838v, 840r:840v, 842v:855r, 856r:863r, 876r:879r, 883r:884v, 886r:888r, 890r:895v, 897r:903r, 906v:908r, 909r, 910r:925v, 928r:933r, 935r:940v, 943r:944v, 946r:955r, 956v:984v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence