‘Dispatch of Three Cruizers to the Persian Gulph [Gulf] for the Suppression of Pirates.’

Content

The item consists of copies and extracts of Political Consultations and Political Letters sent to and 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. .

The item relates to attacks on merchant ships by the Joasamee [Āl Qāsimī One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. ] and the numerous counterefforts made by the East India Company and others over several years to curb the power of the Joasamee 'pirates'. In particular the item is concerned with:

• Accounts of the attack on the Company ships Macaulay and Duncan
• The armament and dispatch of three Company cruizers to the Gulph [Gulf] of Persia for the purpose of protecting trade in the region against the Joasamee pirates
• The order to inform the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat and the English Broker Often a local commercial agent in the Gulf who regularly performed duties of intelligence gathering and political representation. at Muscat of the above expedition so that they might offer aid and assistance to the commanding officers
• The prohibition of the sale of timber, teakwood and planks at British ports to Arabs as it has been discovered that some of these items are then sent to the Coast of Malabar where the Joasamee are able to source the material to repair their ships
• The successful attack on Rasul Khyma [Ra's al-Khaymah], the principal port of the Joasamee, by Captain Wainwright of His Majesty's ship La Chiffonne and Lieutenant-Colonel Smith of His Majesty's 65th Regiment
• Intelligence that a fleet of 18 'piratical' vessels based at Rasul Khyma are preparing to intercept merchant ships on their journey from Bussora [Basra] to India
• Instructions to commanding officers including orders in the event of conciliatory proposals on the part of the Joasamee and orders to avoid 'all undue constraint or detriment towards the interior commerce of the Gulph'
• Reports of a battle between the fleet of Rehma bin Janber [Rahmah bin Jābir al-Jalhami] and the Uttobies [ʿUtūb] of Bahrein [Bahrain] in which three of Rehma's ships have been blown up and Rehma has reportedly been killed.

The item also includes a note on the number of ships destroyed and men killed or wounded in the attack on Rasul Khyma (f 59 verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. ).

Correspondents: 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. ; East India Company Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. ; J Babington, Deputy Secretary to 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. ; W J Hamilton, Secretary in 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. Marine Department; Francis Warden, Chief Secretary to 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. ; Alexander Bell, Conservator of the Forests in Malabar [Kochi]; Captain Charles Sealy, Commander of the Company's cruizer Benares ; Chief Secretary to the Supreme Government; Captain Prior of His Majesty's ship Hesper ; William Bruce, Acting Resident at Bushire.

The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Political No. 9, Season 1814/15, Draft 20' and 'Examiner's Office November 1812-November 1813'.

Extent and format

1 item (29 folios)

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 52, and terminates at f 80, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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/F/4/415/10276

History of this record

Date(s)

29 Aug 1810-16 Jan 1813 (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

Related primary sources

Bombay Pol 4 Nov 1814, draft 20/1814-15, IOR/E/4/1031 pp 599-601. See also IOR/F/4/343/7962 and IOR/F/4/344/7963

Subjects

Trade (practice)PiracyNaval operations

Places

MuscatRasul KhymaPersian Gulf

People & organisations

MacaulayResidentĀl Bū Sa'īd dynasty, Imam of Muscat and OmanBenares, sloopĀl Qawāsim (Tribe)

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Cite this record in your research

‘Dispatch of Three Cruizers to the Persian Gulph [Gulf] for the Suppression of Pirates.’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/F/4/415/10276, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000001700.0x00038f> [accessed 3 July 2024]

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