IOR/L/PS/5/449, ff 569-613

This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 26 of 1847, dated 15 March 1847. The enclosures are dated 4 January-13 March 1847.

The item chiefly comprises communications between Stafford Bettesworth Haines, Political Agent at Aden; the Secretary to the Government, Bombay; and the Secretary to the Government of India. Also included are several minutes of the President and Governor in Council, Bombay, concurred with by members in Council or the Board.

The papers cover the following matters:

• The general peaceful state of affairs in the vicinity of Aden and the resulting good communications with the interior and well stocked markets
• Reports that the Imam of Sana [Sana‘a ] has marched to Taaez [Taiz, also spelled Taez in this item] since the Sherriff [Sharif] of Mocha has made peace with Sheik Ali Homeida [Shaikh ‘Alī Ḥumaydah], that he is levying contributions from the ‘mountain chiefs’, and that his force is reputedly 7000 men strong
• Affairs concerning the tribes of the neighbourhood, including: a recent disturbance between a number of tribes caused by a ‘misunderstanding concerning transit duties’ (f 574); and an apparent attack by the Azeibies [‘Uzaybī?] on Futhel ibn Hyder [Faḍl bin Ḥaydar] of Seyla and his return attack
• A report that the Sultan of the Ourlghi tribe has issued orders for his tribe to march westward, causing great concern to the ‘agriculturists’ (farmers) surrounding Lahidge [Lahej] and the Sultan of Lahidge, and Haines’s hope that an invasion will not happen as this would affect the Aden market
• The return to Aden of the HC [Honourable Company’s] Schooner of War Constance from Mussowah [Massawa, also spelled Mussowa in this item] and a copy of the commander’s report to Haines (ff 592-594), of his proceedings regarding settlement of the dispute between the Banian merchant and the Turkish [Ottoman] Governor of Mussowah to the satisfaction of both parties. Also included is Haines’s justification for sending the Constance to Mussowah (f 599), following a request for further particulars from the Bombay Government
• Haines’s report that he has requested the HC Schooner Tigris to convey Lieutenant Charles John Cruttenden, Assistant Political Agent at Aden, on a tour around the different ports and within the gulf of Aden, whom he has instructed, amongst other things, to: proceed to Berbera and Bulharr [Bulhar] to visit the ‘feuding’ Somali tribes on the African coast and to persuade the Elders into amicable settlements since the feuds are impeding the coastal trade with Aden; investigate obtaining supplies from Maculla [Makalla] in case of an emergency; obtain the property of the late Reverend Thomas Brochman at Shahr [ash-Shihr]; visit Socotra to enquire into the movement of French vessels which have apparently surveyed the island in detail recently; and enquire into the trade in enslaved persons in the region (ff 587-589)
• The view of the Governor-General of India that the stipend of the Sultan of Lahidg should be forfeited as he was the ‘leader and fomenter of the recent hostilities at Aden’, and should only be renewed after ‘a period of approved good conduct’ (f 581)
• Soundings taken, by the commander of the Constance, on two sides of the Zebaya [Zubayr] Islands and confirmation that no change in the depth of water there has been found (subsequent to the recent volcanic eruption there) (f 597)
• The ‘Proposed Draft of Instructions for the guidance of the Political Agent at Aden’ (ff 607-609) regarding police rules, and their transmission to Haines to report how far, in his opinion, they can be made applicable to Aden
• In response to Haines’s request for instructions, the Bombay Government’s agreement that the Johannese Chiefs [ruling princes of Anjouan] who are expected to return to Aden next July should be entertained at government expense, but that Haines should arrange a ‘Bugla, or other country craft’ (f 613) to return them to their country as there is no justification for using a government vessel.