IOR/L/PS/5/452, ff 123-177

This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 99 of 1847, dated 15 November 1847. The enclosures, numbered 3-31, consist of correspondence, and minutes of the Government of Bombay. Enclosure numbers 3-29 are dated 13 May to 13 November 1847.

The enclosures concern matters including:

• The Political Agent at Aden, Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, reporting that the Arab tribes in the immediate neighbourhood of Aden are in a ‘tranquil’ state
• Haines receiving an application from the Sultan of Lahedge [Lahej or Lahij], Sultan M’Houssain Fudthel [Muḥsin bin Faḍl al-‘Abdalī], for the restoration of his stipend
• An outbreak of smallpox cases amongst the Somali (also spelled Soomallee in this item) community at Aden, and measures taken by the Political Agent at Aden to prevent it spreading
• The departure of the Assistant Political Agent at Aden, Lieutenant Charles John Cruttenden, to Berbera (also spelled Burberra in this item) on political duty, with Haines issuing him the following instructions: to assist in settling the feud between the Somali tribes, helping to ensure that the annual fair at Berbera is held, which is greatly beneficial to Indian and Aden trade; to make enquiries into the state of the country inland, and especially to ascertain whether a regular supply of meat to Aden over the next few years can be counted on; and to provide information on the proceedings of Ismail Effendi [Ismā‘īl Ḥaqqī Pāshā], the Governor of Mussowah [Massawa], who is reported to have laid claim in the name of Mahomet Ali Pasha [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā al-Mas‘ūd bin Āghā] to the sea ports of Tajoura [Tadjoura], Zeyla [Zeila or Saylac] and Berbera
• The circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Ibrahim Pittajee [Ibrāhīm Pitājī, also spelled Ibrahim Pettajee, and in various other ways in this item] from his employment as Town Surveyor at Aden by the Executive Engineer at Aden, Captain James Kilner
• Lieutenant Cruttenden’s request for an increase to his pay and allowances as Assistant Political Agent at Aden.

The correspondence is mainly between the following: the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, Arthur Malet; the Political Agent at Aden; the Assistant Political Agent at Aden; the Executive Engineer at Aden; Ibrahim Pittajee; Brigadier W Spiller, Commanding at Aden; the Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General; the Bombay Medical Board; and the Bombay Military Board.

Enclosure Nos. 30-31, listed in the abstract of contents as copies of the Bombay Times Overland Summary and the Bombay Overland Telegraph and Courier, dated 15 November 1847, are not included in this item (they are recorded as missing in a note dated 30 November 1906).