IOR/L/PS/5/385, ff 627-721

This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 50 of 1840, dated 23 July 1840. The enclosures are numbered 3-46 and are dated 16 October to 22 July 1840.

The enclosures mostly consist of correspondence, relating to Aden affairs. The enclosures concern matters including:

• A petition from ‘Banian’ [bania] inhabitants of Aden to the Governor in Council of Bombay, complaining about some British troops having killed a goat in a place of worship
• A letter from Mahomed Ali [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā al-Mas‘ūd bin Āghā], Governor of Egypt, to Achmet Pasha [Aḥmad Pāshā], the General commanding the army of the Hedjaz [Hejaz], regarding the result of a meeting held at Constantinople [Istanbul] between the ambassadors of the Allied Powers (England, Austria and Russia), concerning affairs between the Sublime Porte [Government of the Ottoman Empire] and Mahomed Ali
• The Political Agent at Aden, Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, having despatched the steam packet Zenobia to Mocha for a few days, following the Agent at Mocha reporting that the British flag was to be pulled down there, that ‘the English’ were being insulted, and that merchants, whether British subjects or otherwise, were to be compelled to pay a sum of money
• Haines reporting a planned attack on Aden by the Abdallee [al-‘Abdalī] and Fouthelee [al-Faḍlī] tribes
• Haines requesting the sanction of the Government of Bombay to the retention of all of the police peons for the month of June 1840, and half the number for July 1840, after the arrival of the Bombay Police
• Haines reporting that the anticipated attack on Aden has been put off until about 28 June 1840 due to the heavy rains inundating all the lowlands and compelling all the assembled tribes to disperse and try to save their crops
• An application from the Commander of the barque Ariel for pay and batta [extra allowance] for himself and his crew for assistance provided by them at Aden in November 1839
• An attack on Aden by ‘the Arabs’ on 21 May 1840, and the views of the Governor-General of India on the proceedings of the military and naval forces at Aden during the attack
• A petition purportedly from Sultan Mohsun Fudl Obedeli [Sulṭān Muḥsin bin Faḍl al-‘Abdalī] complaining about the conduct of Jaffer [Ja’far], Interpreter to the Political Agent at Aden, which Haines states is not actually from Sultan Mohsun Fudl Obedeli
• A petition from Shaik Abdool Lutif [Shaikh ‘Abd al-Laṭīf] and Shaik Dahee [Shaikh Ḍāḥī] complaining that the person who manages the construction of Aden has removed some stones from the mosque and tomb at Aden and used them in the construction of Aden
• A petition from Nacoda Syed Nooroodeen [Nakhuda Sayyid Nūr al-Dīn], on behalf of Nawab Ahameedeen Nissa Begum [Nawwāb Aḥmad al-Nisā’ Begum, also spelled Ahmed ul Nissa Begum] of Madras to receive from the Government of Bombay part of the property recovered from her ship the Durya Dowlut [also spelled Durria Dowlut in this item], which was wrecked and plundered at Aden
• Measures adopted for the restoration of the vessel Bhawany Pursad [Bhavani Parsad, also spelled Bhawany Pursaad and in other ways in this item], seized and plundered by Maharah [Al-Mahrah] ‘Arabs’ of Wadee [Wadi].

The main correspondents are the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, Lestock Robert Reid, and Haines. Other correspondents include: Lieutenant-Colonel D Capon, commanding the troops at Aden; and the Officiating Secretary to the Government of India.