Turkish Arabia Affairs

Content

This item comprises a copy of an enclosure 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 104 of 1846, dated 14 September 1846. The enclosure is dated 24 July 1846.

The primary document is a despatch from Major Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, 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. in 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. [Ottoman Iraq], forwarding, for the information of 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. and the Governor-General of India, copies of his communications to Sir Stratford Canning, HM Ambassador at Constantinople [Istanbul], reporting on affairs in the Baghdad Pachalic [Pashalik].

The papers notably cover the following matters:

• Reports that the supporters of Ahmed Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Aḥmad Pāshā] have all deserted him, that he left Zohab [Sarpol Zahab] and joined ‘a certain holy man Sheikh [Shaikh] Tahir who resides on the Azerbijan [Iranian Azerbaijan] Frontier of Kurdistan’ and has ‘assumed the habit of a Dervish’, and Rawlinson’s scepticism about Ahmed Pasha’s conversion and suspicion that it may be short-lived
• Information indicating that the troops being sent from Baghdad against the Chief of Rowandize [Rasūl Pāshā, of Rawandiz, also spelled Rowanduz in this item] to enforce payment of arrears of revenue and other measures, have been halted following the mediation of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Moosul [Mosul] on behalf of the Chief
• Preparations being made by the Persian [Iranian] authorities to erect a fort on the Kurdish frontier at Lahijan and Rawlinson’s concerns that this will aggravate the Bilbass [Belbās or Bilbas] inhabitants who pasture their flocks in that district and that any orders issued by Nejib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Muḥammad Najīb Pāshā, Governor of Baghdad] to the Bilbass against impeding the construction will be ignored
• A report that the Governor of Kermanshah has advanced in the direction of Zohab, possibly as a superficial response to the Turkish [Ottoman] advance on Rowanduz
• Reports that Persian refugees residing in the Turkish town of Khannikeen [Khanaqin, also known as Khaniqin] have in the last few days committed a serious ‘outrage’ in Persia and ‘entirely destroyed the rich district of Kileh Shahm, one of the dependencies of Zohab’ (f 201), and Nejib Pasha’s attempts at restitution and orders to the Governor of Khannikeen to expel the offending parties from Turkish territory
• Doubts expressed by Rawlinson and Lieutentant-Colonel Sheil, HM Minister in Teheran [Tehran], regarding the ability of Persian authorities, despite their apparent willingness, to provide redress for ‘outrages’ committed by the various tribes of Looristan [Larestan] on subjects of Turkey or to provide satisfactory compensation for the violent entry into Kerbela [Karbala] by the escort accompanying the Governor of Kermanshah’s wife (on her return from pilgrimage).

Extent and format

1 item (10 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY', Vol 83

1062 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/445

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/5/445, ff 195-204

Former external reference(s)

No. 104 of 1846

History of this record

Date(s)

14 Sep 1846 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

FortificationsBilateral relationsFrontiersTribal relationsAtrocities

Places

KhannikeenKurdistan

People & organisations

Political AgentHM Ambassador to the Ottoman EmpireHM Ambassador to IranGovernor of BaghdadPrince-Governor of Kermanshah

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Cite this record in your research

Turkish Arabia Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/445, ff 195-204, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100154581908.0x00000b> [accessed 17 July 2024]

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