IOR/L/PS/5/445, ff 139-169

This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 101 of 1846, dated 27 August 1846. The enclosures are dated 30 July-27 August 1846.

The papers chiefly relate to reports of an impending attack on Aden by a force led by ‘a fanatic named Sayud Ismail [Sayyid Ismā‘īl, also spelled Syud in this item] who having made his way from Mecca to this vicinity by slow marches, accompanied by a number of Dervises [dervishes] and other religious Zealots, has loudly proclaimed his determination to dislodge the “Feringhees” [foreigners] from the “strong hold” of the Moslem’ (f 146), and notably cover and include the following:

• A report by Stafford Bettesworth Haines, Political Agent at Aden, to the Government in Bombay, of intelligence received regarding the progress of Sayud Ismail and his followers towards Aden between 1-15 August, including: Sayd Ismail’s apparent meetings with the local ‘chiefs’ gathering additional followers from various tribes; the support of a son of Sultan M Houssain of Lahidge [Sultan Muḥsin bin Faḍl al-‘Abdalī, Sultan of Lahej] in the ‘Holy cause’; the influence of Sayud Ismail and his reputation for possessing ‘superhuman’ (f 147) powers of conquest, causing 1200-1400 inhabitants of Aden to leave the town in anticipation of the defeat of the English
• Copies of Haines’s instructions to Lieutenant-Colonel H R Milner, Commanding the troops at Aden, and Lieutenant-Colonel W C Barker, Senior Naval Officer, regarding arrangements to repel any act of aggression, including: prevention of arms entering Aden via the defensive wall; assessment of the military force and ammunition at Aden; searching of all boats entering Aden harbour; and surveillance of the numbers entering daily through the town gates (ff 149-151)
• Minute of the Governor and President in Council, Bombay, concurred in by members in Council, regarding measures to be taken in response to the information received about a potential attack on Aden
• Instructions issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay, to the Military Board, the Superintendent of the Indian Navy and the Deputy Quartermaster-General of the Army, Bombay, regarding: arrangements to supply to Aden any deficiencies of military stores and salt by the ship Seminaris or another vessel; a return of all troops and armaments at Aden (f 166); information regarding which vessels can be immediately sent or be got ready to sail to Aden, including those proceeding for the Persian Gulf; termination of the pensions (or stipends) of any ‘chiefs’ who may have joined Sayud Ismail; and agreement that no force need be despatched at this stage to Aden.