IOR/F/4/1398/55441

The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence, minutes and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, extracts of the Government of Bombay Political Consultations. It is the second in a series of 4 items on general affairs in the Persian Gulf (the others are: IOR/F/4/1398/55440, 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 1827-1832. In particular, the item relates to:

• The 1830 rebellion against Syed Sued [Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd], the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat, led by his relative Hamood bin Azan [Ḥamūd bin Azan Āl Bū Sa‘īd] at Sohar [Ṣuḥār] and the necessity of the British Government’s intervention in this affair
• The general weakness of the Imaum’s current position due to the above rebellion, his failed attempt to seize Bahrein [Bahrain] and the resurgence of the Wahabees [Wahabi tribe]
• The Government of Bombay’s concerns that the Imaum is considering interfering in Persian affairs whilst his own territories are in disarray
• Conflict between the Imaum of Muscat and the Chief of Bahrein
• Conflict between the Chief of Sharga [Sharjah] and the Chief of Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi]
• Discussions about Chieftains abiding by the General Treaty [General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf] by giving notice of their intention to commence hostilities; the impact this has on whether blockades can be considered official; and the effect this has on the freedom of merchant ships to carry cargo between ports that belong to warring tribes
• An incident in 1829 at Sharga [Sharjah] in which Sooltan bin Suggur [Sulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī, Ruler of Ra’s al Khaymah and Sharjah] blocked the Sunbury, a merchant vessel bearing an East India Company pass and colours, from transporting cargo to Aboothabee.

The item also includes minor and general discussions of issues in the Persian Gulf, such as: reported acts of ‘piracy’ and punishment of ‘pirates’; wars between numerous Chieftains; the British Government’s policy of non-interference in these disputes; and the relationships between numerous tribes.

The principal correspondents of the item are: the Government of Bombay; Major David Wilson, Resident in the Persian Gulf; Samuel Hennell, Assistant [and Acting] Resident in the Persian Gulf; Sooltan bin Suggur; and Syed Sued. Other correspondents include: William Clerk and Robert Cotton Money, successive holders of the position of Acting Persian Secretary; William Collinson and Thomas Elivon, successive holders of the position of Senior Marine Officer in the Persian Gulph [Gulf]; Lieutenant W Hodges, Commanding the Company ship Amherst; George Garnett Huske Munnings, Commander of the merchant ship Sunbury; Shaik Tahnoon ben Shaikboot [Shaikh Ṭaḥnūn bin Shakhbūṭ Āl Nahyān, Ruler of Abu Dhabi]; and numerous Native Agents at Muscat.

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'.