IOR/L/PS/5/376, ff 500-536

This item consists of a despatch to the Secret Committee, 18 July 1839, from John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government, Bombay [Mumbai], containing a series of numbered enclosures. The despatch itself (not included) is numbered 1 and is followed by an abstract of contents, numbered 2. This is followed by despatches, numbered 3-8, from Captain Samuel Hennell, Political Resident, Persian Gulf, to Willoughby, with relevant enclosures.

The papers chiefly relate to Hennell’s efforts to check the perceived extension of Egyptian influence on the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf, particularly in the province of Oman, and to bring about the expulsion from Shargah [Sharjah] of Sued bin Mooktluk [Sa‘d bin Mutlaq al-Muṭayrī], the self-professed agent of Khorshid Pasha [Khūrshid Pāshā], Commander of the Egyptian Forces in Nedgd [Najd, also known as Nejd].

The majority of the item comprises Hennell’s report of his tour of the Arabian coast, in the Hugh Lindsay, providing details of his meetings with: Shaik Abdoollah bin Ahmed [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah], Chief of Bahrein; [Bahrain] Shaik Kuleefa bin Shakboot [Shaikh Khalīfah bin Shakhbut Āl Nahyān] Chief of Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi], Chief of the Beniyas [Bani Yas]; Shaik Mukhtoom [Maktūm I bin Buṭṭī bin Suhayl Āl Maktūm] of Debaye [Dubai]; Abdoollah bin Rushid [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Rāshid al-Mu’allā], Shaik of Amulgavin [Umm al-Qaywayn]; and Shaik Sultan bin Suggur [Shaikh Sulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī], Chief of Rasel Khymah [Ra’s al-Khaymah, also spelled Rusil and Rasil Khymah in this item], Chief of the Joasmees [al-Qawāsim]. He also reports his communications with the chiefs of the Naeem [al-Na‘īm] tribe regarding their opposition to Sued bin Mootluk’s plans to capture the fort of Brymee [Al Buraymi].

Hennell’s disussions with the Arab Maritime Chiefs cover: the reasons behind the Chief of Bahrein’s agreement recognising the superiority of Mahomed Ally [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā al-Mas‘ūd bin Āghā] Governor of Egypt; the extent of the communications of the chiefs with Sued bin Mootluk; on-going conflicts between the chiefs and their mutual accusations of collusion with bin Mootluk; Hennell’s extraction from the chiefs of declarations of loyalty to the British Government and opposition to the ‘aggressions’ of Khorshid Pasha and Mahomed Ally (copies enclosed with the report); the supply of ammunition and provisions to the chiefs of Brymee and promise to post a British Agent there; pressure on Sultan bin Suggur to effect the expulsion of Sued bin Mootluk from Shargah [Sharjah]. Hennell concludes his report by suggesting formal remonstrances be made by British Government representatives in Cairo, and that blockades and destruction of towns and vessels should be the threatened consequence of any maritime chief assisting Sued bin Mootluk.

Also included in the item is: Hennell’s protest to Khorshid Pasha regarding Sued bin Mootluk’s claims to have taken over the government of Oman, against the apparent policy of Mahomed Ally; Hennell's request to Bombay for musket powder and lead; Hennell's report of his arrival in Muscat and discussions with the son and nephew of the Imam of Muscat in which he encourages Muscat to assist the Naeem against any attack by Sued bin Mootluk on Brymee; news of the removal of Mirza Assad as Govenor of Bushire [Bushehr] and his replacement by the authorities at Shiraz with Mirza Mahomed Houssein [Muḥammad Ḥusayn], the son-in-law of the Wuzier [Vizier] [of Shiraz?], Mirza Ahmed Khan [Mīrzā Aḥmad Khān].