IOR/L/PS/9/18

The volume consists of despatches to the Duke of Argyll, Secretary of State for India, from Lewis Pelly, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, dated 3 July-23 September 1871. The despatches contain enclosures consisting of correspondence sent and received by the Political Resident, dated 20 April-23 September 1871.

Much of the volume relates to the Turkish [Ottoman] Expedition to Nujd [Najd], initially in support of the Emir Abdullah ben Feysul [‘Abdullāh bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] against a rebellion by his brother Saood [Sa‘ūd bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], and the subsequent Turkish conquest of parts of the Gulf coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Topics covered include:

• The Turkish capture of Kateef [Al-Qatif], Demaum [Dammam] and Lahsa [Al-Hasa] from supporters of Saood
• Fears of a possible Turkish attack on Bahrain, and British preparations for how to respond in such an instance
• Reports that a British-owned steamer, SS Snipe, is employed in conveying Turkish troops and equipment from Bussorah [Basra] to Kateef, and the temporary detention of the Snipe at Bushire [Bushehr]
• Reports that Turkish forces in Guttur [Qatar], led by the Chief of Kowait [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh II al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ of Kuwait], have forced the Chief of Biddeh [Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī of Al-Bid] to raise the Turkish flag at Biddeh
• The rejection of the Turkish flag by Buttye bin Khadem [Buṭṭī bin Khādim], Chief of Adeyd [Khawr al Udayd], claiming to be under British protection
• Widespread rumours, later shown to be false, that Abdullah ben Feysul had been killed in battle against Saood
• The arrival in the Gulf of two Turkish vessels of war, and an expectation by the British that more are on their way.

Also covered significantly in the volume are events following the deposition of Azzan bin Kais [‘Azzān bin Qays] as Sultan of Muscat by Sayid Torkee [Turkī bin Sayyid Āl Bū Sa‘īd], including:

• Resistance to Sayid Torkee at Sohar [Suhar] by Azzan’s brother Ibrahim bin Kais [Ibrahim bin Qays], and a complaint to the British by Sayid Torkee that he is being assisted by Zayed bin Khuleefa, Chief of Aboothabee [Zāyid bin Khalīfah Āl Nahyān, Emir of Abu Dhabi]
• A refusal by Sayid Torkee’s brother Syud Abdool Azaaz [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin Sayyid Āl Bū Sa‘īd] to contribute to an expedition against Sohar, and a subsequent ruling that he will no longer be welcomed at Muscat
• British recognition of Sayid Torkee as Sultan of Muscat, and instructions to British officials that any statements of recognition should not make any mention of the title Imaum [Imam], or of rights over the Mekran [Makran] Coast, Bunder Abbass [Bandar Abbas] or Zanzibar
• Sayid Torkee’s expedition against Sohar and subsequent peace agreement with Ibrahim bin Kais
• The occupation of Gwadur [Gwadar] and Charbar [Chabahar] by Syud Abdool Azeez in opposition to his brother.

Other topics covered in the volume include:

• Efforts to suppress the trade in enslaved persons in the Gulf, and instances of enslaved persons seeking sanctuary on British ships at Bushire
• A memorandum on the opium trade in Persia [Iran]
• Preparations to overthrow the Governor of Bunder Abbass by Ahmed Shah [Aḥmad Shāh Khān Mīnābī]
• Efforts by Gray Paul & Co to gain a concession from the Government of Persia to run a steam boat service on the Karoon [Karun] River between Mohummera [Khorramshahr] and Shuster [Shushtar]
• Famine in Persia, and the Government’s prohibition of exporting or storing grain and other provisions
• Instances of cholera at several Gulf ports
• Movements in the Gulf of HMS Bullfinch, Magpie and Hugh Rose, and the return of the former two to Bombay [Mumbai]
• A claim by Buttye bin Khadem over the coastline from Ras-ul-Hala ‘midway to Wukra’ [Al Wakrah] to ‘a point abreast of the Island of Seir Benyas’ [Sir Bani Yas], and rejection of the rule of Zayed bin Khuleefa
• Disputes between Eysaw bin Alli [‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah], Chief of Bahrain, and Mahomed bin Tani [Muḥammad bin Thānī], Chief of Guttur
• The murder in Bahrain by the brothers of Eysaw bin Alli of a man identified as one of the murderers of their late father Alli bin Khalifah [‘Alī bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah]
• A petition from Gray Paul & Co and other British and Indian merchants in Bushire for modifications to be made to the British Commercial Treaty with Persia.