IOR/R/15/1/98, ff 4-5

Commander Porter’s letter contains his report of a cruise to the Arabian Coast in the Euphrates, under sailing orders received from Commodore Lowe on 28 December 1842.

Commander Porter reports that he put to sea on the 29 December 1842, with bad weather soon affecting his route. His first main port of call was Sharga [Sharjah] on the 31 December 1842 where Moolah Hussein, the British Native Agent at Sharga came aboard, reporting all was quiet on that part of the Arabian coast and the ruling sheiks were residing at their respective towns. Commander Porter then sailed to Nabend, arriving there on 9 January 1843 and made enquiries about the alleged plunder of a boat by the Sheikh of Nabend, who was absent visiting villages inland. Commander Porter was told that the boat had in fact been plundered by the Sheikh of Bissateen.

Commander Porter states in his letter that he is enclosing his sailing orders and a letter from Moolah Hussein for the Resident. These additional documents are not present in the volume containing this letter.