IOR/R/15/1/66

The volume consists of substances of, and translations of native letters (i.e. correspondence in Arabic or Persian) sent to the British Resident in the Persian Gulf. The majority of these are from various native agents serving the British in the Gulf at Bahrein [Bahrain], Lingah [Bandar-e-Lengeh], Muscat, and Sharjah respectively. They provide updates on the local political situation; relay local news; report incidents of, enquiries into, and restitution for acts of piracy; and forward any intelligence that the agents perceive to be of interest to the Resident. It also includes incidents where the agents report ill treatment at the hands of local subjects, or the local authorities.

Also included are communications from local rulers in the Gulf region. These are much less common, but include communications from Shaikh Abdollah bin Ahmed [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah], Chief of Bahrein; Sultan ben Sugger [Sulṭān bin Saqr], Chief of the Joasmees [Qawāsim]; and Shaikh Khuleefa ben Shakboot [Khalīfah bin Shakhbūṭ], Chief of the Beniyas [Bani Yas].

Some specific topics covered include a war between the Wahabees [Wahhabis] and Bahrein; a dispute between Humood bin Azan, Chief of Sohar [Ṣuḥār], and the Governors of Muscat; and political instability in Persia following the death of Fatḥ ‘Alī Shāh Qājār (such as Ḥusayn ‘Alī Mirzā's declaring himself King of Shiraz). The murder of Shaikh Toorky bin Saood [Turki bin Sa‘ūd], Wahabee Chief, is also reported within.