'LETTERS FROM PERSIAN GULF', Vol 15 [‎10r] (24/1110)

Content

The volume consists of despatches to the Duke of Argyll, Secretary of State for India, from 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. at Bushire [Bushehr], dated 27 February-6 November 1869. The despatches contain enclosures comprising correspondence sent and received by Pelly, dated 18 February-4 November 1869.

The majority of the correspondence relates to political affairs in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , particularly that of:

• Muscat [sometimes written Muskat] and Oman, including: the rule of Syud Azan [‘Azzān bin Qays Āl Bū Sa‘īd, also written Sayid Azzan in this volume] and whether it should be recognised by the British or an alternative ruler be found; social and trade conditions in the country under Azan's rule; various disagreements between 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, Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Disbrowe, and Syud Azan; relations between Muscat and Zanzibar; Syud Azan's capture of Bereymee [Al-Buraymi, various spellings in this volume] in July 1869
• Persia [Iran], including: the appointment by the Persian Government of Hajee Ahmed [Ḥājjī Aḥmad Khān], minister of the former Sultan of Muscat and Oman, as Governor of Bunder Abbass [Bandar-e Abbas, also written Bundur Abbass in this volume]; the status of the lease of the Bunder Abbass granted to Muscat by the Persian Government; changes to the governorship of southern Persia; the appointment of a British Agent at Shiraz; the question of jurisdiction of British authorities in Persia, and the possibility of granting such authorities judicial powers; the brief occupation of Bunder Abbass by a Sheikh Saeed [Shaikh Sa‘īd], believed to be under the orders of Syud Azan; a cholera outbreak at Bushire and the measures taken by the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ; an attack on the crew of HM Steamer Dalhousie at Bushire and the punishment of the soldiers and governor responsible
• Bahrain, including: an agreement with Guttur [Qatar] for the combined payment of tribute to the Wahabee [ Wahhābī A follower of the Islamic reform movement known as Wahhabism; also used to refer to the people and territories ruled by the Al-Saud family. ] Government; the deportation by the Shaikh of Bahrain, Ali bin Khuleefah [‘Alī bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah, various spellings in this volume], of his brother, Mahomed bin Khuleefah [Muḥammad bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah] for intriguing against him; several conflicting accounts of the attack on and plunder of Manamah [Manama], Bahrain, by Mahomed bin Khuleefah, and the effort to evacuate British subjects and protected peoples; the murder of Mahomed and Ali bin Khuleefah and the seizing of power in Bahrain by Mohamed bin Abdullah [Muḥammad bin ‘Abdullāh Āl Khalīfah]; the assembly of a naval expedition force at Angaum [Jazireh-ye Hengam] with the aim of ousting Mahomed ben Abdullah and restoring the peace.

The papers also cover a number of other matters, including:

• The movements and influence of the Wahabee Ameer [Amīr], Abdullah ben Feysul al Saood [‘Abdullāh bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], throughout the Arabian Peninsula
• The question of recognising Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh] as a separate 'port of entry' and whether to establish a custom house there
• Alleged fraud being carried out at Ottoman Turkish custom houses in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , where goods are falsely represented as destined for India
• Arrival of the Dutch Consul at Bushire in March 1869
• The destruction of a Persian craft by HM Steamer Dryad for suspected trafficking of enslaved peoples, the denial of this by the Governor of Mogo [Bandar-e Moghuyeh], and the investigation into the incident
• A number of 'piratical' incidents
• Tribal migrations in Guttur
• Proposals to expand the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Bushire
• Precautions taken by the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. during the Islamic holy day of Ashoora [‘Āshūrā']
• An attack on Rasul-Khyma [Ras al-Khaymah] by the Ruler of Shargah [Sharjah]
• The condition and development of trade in the Gulf
• The threat of a strike by the engineers on board HM Steamer Dalhousie in August 1869.

As well as 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. , correspondents include: George Andrew Atkinson (from April 1869, Lieutenant-Colonel Disbrowe), 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. , Muscat; employees of Messrs Gray Paul and Company; Hajee Ahmed, Governor of Bunder Abbass; Captain Edward Charles Ross, Assistant 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. , Gwadur [Gwadar]; Ali ben Khuleefah, Shaikh of Bahrain; Charles Alison, Minister, Tehran; Syud Azan, Imam of Muscat and Oman; Mahomed ben Sanee [Muḥammad bin Thānī Āl Thānī], Ruler of Guttur; Hajee Abdul Rahman [Ḥājjī ‘Abd al-Raḥmān], Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , Shargah; Abdullah ben Feysul al Saood, Wahabee Ameer of Najd; and Ronald Ferguson Thomson, HM Chargé d'Affaires, Tehran.

The volume contains a list of British subjects and those under British protection at various places along the Persian coast where the British had a presence (folios 474-495), with details of names, caste, occupation, birthplace, and reasons for British protection where appropriate.

The Arabic language material comprises a letter from Syud Azan to Lewis Pelly, dated 26 May 1869.

Extent and format

1 volume (550 folios)

Arrangement

The volume is arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear. There is a subject index on folios 3-82 which is arranged alphabetically and refers to the original pagination sequence.

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 551; 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. The sequence contains two foliation anomalies: f 470a and f 513a.

Pagination: the volume also contains a pre-existing pagination sequence.

Written in

English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script

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