IOR/F/4/785/21163

This item consists of copies of correspondence, statements, and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, political letters from the Government of Bombay. The principal correspondents are: the Government of Bombay; the Imaum of Muscat [Imam of Muscat, Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd], Captain William Fitzwilliam Owen; the Governor of Mauritius, Sir Lowry Cole; the Chieftain of Bombassa, Sooleman Ibn Ali Muzroee [Sultan of Mombasa, Sulayman ibn ‘Ali al-Mazru‘i].

The item concerns the actions of Captain Owen of HMS Leven. While surveying the east coast of Africa, he accepted the cession of Bombassa [Mombasa]. The Chieftain of Bombassa wanted British protection against the Imaum of Muscat, offering half his revenues in return. The item consists of:

• The Imaum’s complaints that Bombassa is part of his territory and Owen prevented him from attacking it
• The Imaum’s complaints that ships belonging to his subjects carrying slaves were intercepted by the British
• The evidence that the British collected about the Imaum’s claim to sovereignty over Bombassa
• The decision whether to accept Bombassa as a British Protectorate or not. The Board of Control ruled that it should be left alone.

The item includes a contents page, and the title page of the item contains the following references: ‘Political No. 870, Draft 392, P.C. 276, Examiner’s Office March 1823’.