‘Letters from India (Secret Dept)’, Vol. 13 [915r] (1838/1978)
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.
affect the peace of this border, I thought it only right and proper to bring to
his notice what seemed to me the illiberal conduct of His Highness the Khan.
He replied, as on a former occasion received in this letter, that I need not mind
the Murfee claims against the Khan, or arrange for them; that he would take
care of the Khan’s business himself, or words to that effect.
21. It was thus clearly understood from the first, and most certainly
fully admitted on all sides, that the arrangements made by me for the peace of
the Punjab border with the Murree clan had nothing to do with Murree depre
dations into Khelat. Further, that the clan Murree were at war with His High
ness the Khan on account of their unredressed grievances, and when, accepting
British service, had so declared with the acquiescence—of the then Political
Superintendent on the frontier.
22. 1 must now return to your arrival at Kurrachee, and to Colonel Phayre’s
taking charge of the office of Political Superintendent on the frontier.
23. On his first taking charge I was absent with the Hazara Expedi
tionary Force; but a short time after my return I received his No. 1415, dated
24th November 1868, enclosing copy of your No. 532, dated 20th Novem
ber 1868, to his address.
24. Colonel Phayre’s letter gave an account of Murree depredations into
Khelat territory. From your letter to his address, sent for my guidance, I
quote as follows : “ I quite approve of the view you (Colonel Phayrej have
taken in regard to the mischief which must follow divided management of the
hill tribes supposed and considered to be subjects of His Highness the Khan
of Khelat.
“ I had, previous to the receipt of your several letters, been under the
impression that the instructions acted on by the officers, civil and military
serving on the South-Western Frontier of the Punjab, were that all matters
relating to the Murrees, or any other subjects of the Khan, should be referred to
the Political Superintendent on the frontier of Upper Sind. How or why the
alteration has occurred is not clear, but I conclude it must have been accidental
on the part of Captain Sandeman. I would, therefore, request that you will ad
dress that officer, communicating to him briefly the acts of outrage committed by
the Murrees since May last, and that, in consequence, you have found it neces
sary to declare them unworthy of the favor of the British Government, and, as
punishment, to forbid their obtaining supplies from Sind. You would, therefore,
be obliged by his carrying out the same policy towards this tribe as regards the
district under his charge, and, further, suspending the subsidy which is said to
be paid to the Chief Ghazan until such time as you may intimate that no ob
jection exists to its being re-granted.”
25. You will readily understand that on getting Colonel Phayre’s request
to blockade the Murree tribe from this side, as instructed by you, not six months
after the arrangements above recorded made with Sir Henry Green had been
completed, somewhat confounded me, more especially as I had foreseen the
difficulty, and had earnestly requested that, when settling with the tribe of
the Punjab, I might be allowed to arrange for Khelat also. After considering
the matter I decided to hasten to lay the entire Murree question before Colonel
Pbayre in person, and, after telegraphing for permission, I set out for Jacobabad :
what passed at our interview has been fully reported. I will not enter upon the
subject here, but will merely say that my representations convinced Colonel
Phayre that there were two sides to every story; and that if the Khan of
Khelat had grievances against the Murree clan, they had also grievances
against his government.
26. After a good deal of discussion it was finally arranged that
I should summon the principal Chiefs of the Murree clan to Bajanpore, and send
them in charge of Mr. Assistant Commissioner Bruce to lay their petitions
and grievances in person before the Political Department.
9
About this item
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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.
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- 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