IOR/P/441/97

This volume contains the Abstracts of Proceedings of the Political Department of the Government of Bombay for the months of January-December 1867. These Proceedings consist of abstracts of correspondence sent to the Government of Bombay, and the resolutions taken by the Political Department in relation to that correspondence. Specific pieces of correspondence marked ‘not separately reported’ are included in full as appendices at the end of some months.

The subjects covered include:

• Affairs in and around the Aden Settlement, including: relations with tribes and polities around Aden, covering issues such as the question of exporting arms and munitions from Bombay [Mumbai] to local rulers, subsidies to local rulers, an agreement with the Sultan of Lahej for the construction of an aqueduct bringing water from Sheikh Othman [Shaikh Uthman] to Aden, and the surrender of the Foodhelee [Faḍlī] Sultan to British forces; the Resident at Aden’s proposal to create an irregular cavalry unit in Aden; the Resident’s proposal to occupy and establish a base on Abel Kury [ʻAbd al-Kuri] island; conflict in Shuhur [Shihr] and Makulla [Mukalla]; affairs relating to emancipated enslaved people; Turkish [Ottoman] activity in southern Arabia; and the movements of ships
• Affairs in Muscat, including: the continued threat of an attack on Muscat by Syud Toorkee [Turkī bin Sa‘īd Āl Bū Sa‘īd] and Syud Toorkee’s eventual exile to India; the death of the Agent Mahomed Bauker Khan [Muḥammad Bakr Khān]; the despatch of an envoy from Syud Salim [Sayyid Sālim bin Thuwaynī Āl Bū Sa‘īd], Sultan of Muscat, to the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf; a prohibition on mercenaries from Mekran [Makran] and other territories of the Sultanate from embarking for Bombay; and relations between Muscat and Persia [Iran] concerning Bunder Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbas]
• Affairs in the Persian Gulf, including: slavery on the southern coast of Persia; the relationship with the Prince-Governor of Fars; shipping, including the affairs of the British India Steam Navigation Company, the destruction of the British ship Berenice, and the despatch of another ship for the use of the Political Resident to replace this; the despatch of an envoy from the ‘Chief’ of Bahrein [Shaikh Muḥammad bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah, Ruler of Bahrain] to the Political Residency and the planned restitution to the ‘Chief’ of a captured buggalow [baghlah]; the question of Bahrein’s relation to the Wahabee [Wahhābī] rulers; the proposed introduction of pearl oysters from the Gulf to Ceylon [Sri Lanka]; the question of assistance from the Residency for British Indian subjects in Bushire [Bushehr] and other ports requesting passage to India; affairs concerning telegraphs, including the proposed establishment of a telegraph station on Angaum [Jazireh-ye Hengam] island; the question of supplying and recovering payment for coal for foreign warships; the cultivation and export of opium from Persian ports; and alleged infractions of treaties by Persian authorities, in particular the treaty rights of British subjects to own property in Persia
• Affairs in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq], including: the export of horses; telegraphs; and the pilotage of British ships into the port of Bussorah [Basra]
• Affairs in East Africa, including: the relationship with Syed Majed [Sayyid Mājid bin Sa‘īd Āl Bū Sa‘īd], Sultan of Zanzibar, covering issues such as the flight of the Sultan’s sister Princess Suleyma [Sayyida Sālmah bint Sa‘īd] from Zanzibar, the Sultan’s refusal to continue paying subsidies to Muscat, the Sultan’s request for British support to re-take control of Oman and complaints against the seizure and destruction of Zanzibari merchant ships by British cruisers, and a warning to the Sultan against sending arms and ammunition to ‘chiefs in the Gulf’; the trade in enslaved people, including by the British firm Messrs Fraser and Co for work on sugar plantations, and an attempt by an agent of the Shaik [Shaikh] of Ejman [Ajman] to transport enslaved people from Zanzibar to the Gulf; the mission of Dr David Livingstone and reports of his death; shipwrecks, including of the ships St. Abbs, Mewah, Clutha Belle, and Nowanuggur, and a treaty concluded by Captain Thomas Pasley with the ‘chiefs’ of Brava [Baraawe] guaranteeing the good treatment of European crews shipwrecked on the Somalee [Somali] coast; and the Sultan’s proposed construction of a new town, Dhar Salaam [Dar es Salaam]
• Appointments, leave, pay, allowances, and accommodation of personnel
• Expenditure at British Residencies and Agencies.

The Proceedings also contain correspondence relating to political, economic, and military affairs in Baroda State [Vadodara], Afghanistan, the Deccan, Jedda [Jeddah], Katteewar [Kathiawar], Khandeish [Khandesh], Kolhapoor [Kolhapur State], Kutch [Cutch State], Mahee Kanta [Mahi Kantha Agency], Pahlunpoor [Palanpur State], Peint, Rewa Kanta [Rewa Kantha Agency], Satara, Sawunt Waree [Savantvadi State], Sind [Sindh], Sholapoor [Solapur], Southern Muratha [Maratha] Country, Surat, Tanna, and Abyssinia [Ethiopia] (included in correspondence from Aden). The Proceedings also contain abstracts of petitions from various individuals received by the Government of Bombay.