IOR/L/PS/5/449, ff 462-467

This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 22 of 1847, dated 16 February 1847. The enclosures are dated 2-4 February 1847.

The item comprises two reports by Stafford Bettesworth Haines, Political Agent at Aden, to the Secretary to the Government, Bombay, on the state of affairs in Aden. The reports cover the following matters:

• The arrival of a French Corvette, the Voltigeur bark, on 1 February, bringing despatches for France from Bourbon [Réunion island] ‘in charge of a Capitaine de Vasseau “Boudet” who will proceed by the next mail steamer’, and on his departure the apparent intention of the Voltigeur to sail to Pondichery [Puducherry], including details of the vessel's tonnage and guns, and the reported total number of French vessels in the Indian Ocean
• The peaceful state of affairs between the local tribes and the consequent ‘unmolested’ inland trade with Aden and well supplied markets
• Reported peace between Sheik Ali Homeida [Shaikh ‘Alī Ḥumaydah] and the Sherriff [Sharif] of Hodeida [Al Hudaydah] and Mocha
• Reports, about which Haines is sceptical, that the Imam of Sana [Sana‘a] has retired to Taez [Taiz]
• Reports that the ‘Chief’ of Lahidge [Lahej] has not fully recovered from his illness and that government is in the hands of his eldest son
• Losses in the 2nd European Regiment due to ‘old fever and liver cases’ (f 464).