IOR/F/4/1398/55440

The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence, minutes and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, letters from the East India Company Court of Directors and the Government of Bombay. It is the first in a series of four items on general affairs in the Persian Gulf (the others are: IOR/F/4/1398/55441, IOR/F/4/1399/55442 and IOR/F/4/1399/55442A).

The item is chiefly concerned with general updates of events in the Persian Gulf over the period 1827-32. In particular, the item relates to:

• War between the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat and the Chief of Bharein [Bahrain], and the attempts by Major David Wilson, Resident in the Persian Gulf, to mediate for peace without inserting himself too much into the conflict and concerns that the conflict will allow for the rise of ‘piratical acts’ once more
• The plunder of two boats from Morbut [Mirbāţ] by vessels belonging to the Chief of Bharein’s fleet and the Resident’s subsequent pursuit of restitution from the Chief
• A rebellion by relatives of the Imaum during his absence from Muscat in December 1829, and the Resident’s concern about allowing such a close ally to become too weak
• Discussions between the Court of Directors and the Government of Bombay regarding their attempts to persuade the Imaum to abolish all branches of the slave trade in the region
• Updates by David Anderson Blane, Wilson’s successor, on the unstable atmosphere in Bushire [Būshehr] following the death of Shaik Abdool Russool Khan [Shaikh ‘Abd al-Rasūl Khān]
• General updates regarding: conflicts between numerous Chiefs in the Persian Gulf; minor instances of ‘piratical acts’; status of trade; visits made; and the status of the Wahabee [Wahabi] tribe.

The item includes Wilson’s report (ff 175-182) on the status of treaties with the Imaum, Persia [Iran] and Arabian states regarding the slave trade. His report provides details of the trade at numerous ports in the Persian Gulf, including: number of enslaved people imported; duty paid; number smuggled in; where they come from; gender ratio; prices; who brings them; and mortality rate during voyages.

The principal correspondents of the item are the Court of Directors, the Government of Bombay and Wilson. Other correspondents include amongst others: Syud Syed [Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd, Imam of Muscat]; Shaik Abdoolah bin Ahmed [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah, Shaikh of Bahrein]; Stafford Bettesworth Haines, Commanding Company ship Benares; and numerous Native Agents at Muscat, Bahrein and Linga [Bandar-e-Lengeh].

The title page of the item contains the following references: ‘Bombay Political Department, P.C. [Previous Communication] 1230, Draft 183, 1834' and 'Examiner's Office'.