IOR/L/PS/5/415, ff 482-614

Enclosure nos. 2-29 to a despatch from the Secret Department, Government of Bombay, dated 31 December 1842. The enclosures are dated 16 September-29 December 1842.

The enclosures consist of copies of correspondence relating to affairs in the Persian Gulf, including:

• Events following a mutiny against Lootf Allee Khan [Luṭf ‘Alī Khān Lārī], Commander of the Lar Garrison on Karrack [Kharg], including: Lootf Allee Khan’s unsuccessful attempt to retake the fort at Karrack using a force raised at Bushire [Bushehr]; emissaries sent to reason with the garrison by the Governor of Bushire being beaten and sent back with messages ‘that Karrack was under the Chief of Lar’ (f 501); the Chief of Lar’s criticism of Lootf Allee Khan’s actions, and intention to send a new commander; the garrison’s return to Lar due to lack of supplies, Lootf Allee Khan’s return to the empty fort; and fears expressed by inhabitants of Karrack of a garrison being sent from Bushire or Shiraz ‘who they think will not fail to oppress them’ (f 505)
• The Government of India’s criticism of the Officiating Resident in the Persian Gulf’s handling of events on Karrack, and instruction to him to ‘carefully avoid any further misunderstanding with the local authorities’ (f 491)
• Arrangements for the return of the Political Residency from Karrack to Bushire, including: repairs needed to Residency buildings; the removal of naval stores from Karrack; and an agreement from the Government of Persia [Iran] for the retention of the British Coal Depot on Karrack
• Plans for a mission to Sharga [Sharjah] by the Assistant Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, to mediate a dispute between Sultan bin Suggur [Sultān bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī, Ruler of Sharjah] and Abdoolla bin Rashid [‘Abdullāh bin Rāshid al-Mu’allā, Ruler of Umm al-Qaywayn], and a subsequent disagreement between the Officiating Resident and Commodore William Lowe, Commanding the Squadron in the Gulf of Persia, over use of a ship for the mission
• Discontinuation of monthly reports being sent by sea from the Residency to the Government of Bombay, and arrangements to instead send updates as needed via Tehran
• Requests made to the Imaum [Imām] of Muscat by his Governors of Bander Abbas [Bandar Abbas] and Sohar [Suhar] for increased troop numbers to aid their defence
• The return of customs fees incorrectly levied on a British ship ‘driven into Muscat’ (f 544) by bad weather
• The imprisonment on the Isle of France [Mauritius] of four Americans accused of killing a man in Zanzibar ‘when drunk’ (f 544)
• The intention of the Shah [Shāh] of Persia to send the Governor of Khorassan [Khorasan] to attack Merve [Merv], in retaliation for 'depredations of the Turkomans' (f 549) as far into Persia as Meshed [Mashhad]
• Reports received in Persia and the Gulf about the British defeat in Afghanistan, and a subsequent request to the Government of Persia by Kohun dil Khan [Kuhandīl Khān Muḥammadzay], exiled former Chief of Candahar [Kandahar], to return home
• An investigation into recent hostilities between the Wallee [Walī] of Ardelan [Ardalan] and the Chief of Soolimanieh [As Sulaymaniyah], which: concluded that the Wallee was the aggressor, but also ‘the greater sufferer’ (f 564); found no evidence that the Wallee acted with the sanction of the Government of Persia; placed ultimate responsibility on the Vezeer [Vazīr] of Ardelan and recommended his dismissal and punishment; and recommended that both Persia and the Ottoman Empire should ‘relinquish all discussions for remuneration for their losses’ (f 566), and withdraw all troops from the frontier
• Arrangements for the immediate mutual withdrawal of troops from the Persian-Ottoman frontier to an equal distance, supervised by British and Russian representatives.

The primary correspondents are: the Officiating Resident in the Persian Gulf; HM Chargé d’Affaires, Tehran; Commodore Lowe; the Political Agent, Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq]; the British Consul, Shiraz; the Native Agent, Muscat; the Governor of Erzurum; the Government of Bombay; and the Government of India.