IOR/F/4/2157/103840

The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence and minutes, which form partial enclosures to a Political Letter from the Government of Bombay to the East India Company Court of Directors, dated 27 November 1845. A copy of this letter can be found at IOR/F/4/2157/103838 and further enclosures to this letter can be found at IOR/F/4/2157/103845 and IOR/F/4/2157/103846.

The item relates to a report from Moollah Hoossin [Mullā Ḥusayn], Agent at Shargah [Sharjah], on the ‘slave trade’ [trade in enslaved people] at that port. In particular, the report mentions:

• The number of enslaved people brought to Shargah from Zanzibar, as well as details of the boats which brought them
• A specific case regarding a woman of the ‘Pujeyneeah caste’ who was kidnapped by two men from Amulgavine [Umm al-Qaywayn] before being transferred to Ali bin Rashid [‘Alī bin Rāshid], brother of the Chief of Ejman [Ajman], and sold at Soor [Sur], despite members of her ‘caste’ being considered ‘hoor’ [ḥurr] or ‘free’
• A contract that the boats’ owners have with the people at Soor and the role that the port plays in the transportation of enslaved people.

The report is forwarded to the Government of Bombay by Samuel Hennell, Resident in the Persian Gulf, who provides comments and a proposal on the above case. In addition, the item also contains a minute by the Governor of Bombay regarding the effectiveness of the previous treaties of 1822 and 1839 which were designed to suppress the ‘slave trade’. An extract of additional articles proposed for the 1839 treaty can be found at folios 849-850.

The title page of the item contains the following references: ‘Bombay Political Department’, ‘P.C. [Previous Communication] 5410, Draft 786/46’, ‘Vol: 3’, ‘Collection N. 1 of N. 131’ and ‘Examiner’s Office’. The ‘N. 1’ has been crossed out with different ink.