‘Letters from India (Secret Dept)’, Vol. 13 [947v] (1903/1978)
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.
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The Enckshanees of Nushky, <f Edul Khan, Shnrif Khan and other,” write
to Shahgassee Wullee Mahomed, that when His Highness had sent for Poor
Eil and Alum Khan, they replied that they were then busy with their crops.
“ Every one was satisfied when you Wuzeer Sahib wrote that they mio-fit
remain until they had finished putting down their seed.” About midnio>ht
Alum Khan heard that there was a force coming to make him prisoner, he then
fled to Shorawuk ; at day light a force composed of Jumaldinees, Mandanees,
Harunees, Purazais, Sassulees and others came to attack us, “so we sent Mulah
Pin Mahomed to intercede for us” with Naib Lushks and Imam Had, and
state that if not attacked we would make our salaam. Imam Had then
insisted upon our supplying him with provisions, occupied our houses, looted
every thing in them, and demanded that the members of eight families
should give themselves up as prisoners. Notwithstanding our having agreed to
this, he attacked us and being helpless we had to fight; “people were wounded
on both sides,” but words cannot explain what losses we have sustained by
the plundering of our crops and property. On the 15th August w r e all leave
for Khelat, to complain of the treatment we have received.
In connection with the above, His Highness wrote to Imam Had: I have
heard from the macebearer all about your movements and those evil disposed
people you were sent against. These Kukshanees are my cultivators. I have
written to
Sirdar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Abdool Kehman to send his brother with Alum Khan’s bro
ther and other people of influence to me; these men w r ill be treated as they
deserve; in future, don’t interfere with them. I am of opinion that Alum
Khan will come and make his saalam.
The substance of His Highness’s letter to
Sirdar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Abdool Kehman was as
above stated, with this addition, that His Highness threatened to send a force
to Nushky, if Alum Khan did not make his salaam.
Naib Ali Jan of Kedj wwites to His Highness : When I went to visit Cap
tain Miles at Gwadur, I left Yar Mahomed Sungur in charge of the fort at
Kedj. Huring my absence
Sirdar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Bahi Khan tried threats and promises to
induce Yar Mahomed to give up the fort, but he refused.
Ali Jan also writes : “Sirdar Eaquir Mahomed is in constant communica
tion with the Mekran Chiefs, inciting them to rebellion, and though I have
done all I can to conciliate,
Sirdar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Eaquir Mahomed’s letters have unsettled
the people and caused dissatisfaction; kindly, therefore, send me some
sepoys
Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank.
and guns. Shah Umer Gitchki, Meer Kumur and Yar Mahomed Sunjas, may
be relied upon. If Bahi Khan’s Sirdarship is taken from him, the rest of the
chiefs will behave well; to do this assistance would be required. The poorer
classes are dissatisfied with the above
Sirdar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
.
Sirdar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Eaquir Mahomed has written to
Sirdar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Bahi Khan that the treaty
between your Highness and the Sarawan Chiefs, has broken down, and hostili
ties would commence in a day or two. In a postscript to this letter,
Sirdar
Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Eaquir Mahomed states that it was your Highness’s intention to arrest and
imprison
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.
Nurdeen and Mulah Mahomed, and that on Shahgassee Wullee
Ma homed remonstrating with you, “ you determined to make him prisoner;”
but on hearing what your intentions were, they sought safety in Major
Harrison s camp, “and that matters are now in a very unsatisfactory state as
far as you are concerned.” I am, therefore, much perplexed on your account,
so send me speedy intelligence.
Musah Khan, Naib of Sohrab, writes that Azad Khan is shoeing his
horses and intends plundering Sohrab. The Naib requests that a detachment
of infantry may be speedily sent for the protection of the place.
. Telegraphic instructions from the Commissioner in Sind embodied in
Political Superintendent’s letter, No. 2004! of the Sth August, were duly re
ceived on Saturday the 24th. “ Translation of the same,” with forwarding
letter, were sent to His Highness the Khan. Copy of the latter is annexed.
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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