IOR/L/PS/5/385, ff 744-1021

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 54 of 1840, dated 23 July 1840.

The enclosures listed in the abstract of contents are numbered 3-107. There is a note on folio 745 stating that enclosure numbers 3-4, 7-13 and 15-18 are missing. Enclosure numbers 106 and 107 are also missing. The enclosures which are present in this item are dated 6 April to 18 July 1840. The missing enclosures are dated 3 June to 23 July 1840.

The enclosures mostly consist of correspondence, relating to steam vessels on the Indus and the Euphrates, trade and military affairs in Sinde [Sindh, also spelled Scinde in this item], the First Anglo-Afghan War, and affairs in various other places in Asia.

The enclosures concern matters including:

• The import duties levied at Kurrachee [Karachi, also spelled Kurachee, Curachee and in other ways in this item] by the Ameers [Amīrs] of Scinde on produce transported by land
• The provisions to be issued to ‘Native’ Christians serving with the steam flotilla on the Euphrates
• The proceedings of the committee of survey assembled at Margheil [Al Ma‘qil, also spelled Margeil and Marghull in this item] to report on the advantages, capabilities, and state of Margheil House as a depot for steam vessels on the Euphrates, with a plan of the building (f 790)
• The Superintendent of the Indian Navy, Captain Robert Oliver, reporting the arrival of the Honourable Company’s steam vessel Atalanta in Singapore to the Governor of Bombay, Sir James Rivett Carnac, and forwarding minutes of its proceedings since leaving Bombay from its Commander, J G Rogers
• The request of the Governor of Ceylon [Sri Lanka] that the Honourable Company’s steam vessel Sesostris be sent to Colombo for the purpose of conveying the Governor to Mauritius for ‘the benefit of a change of air’, on medical advice
• The application of the Political Agent in Shawl [Sahiwal?], J D D Bean, for a quantity of rifles for arming the Bolan Rangers
• The Political Agent in Lower Sinde, Captain James Outram, enclosing copies of papers relating to the promotion of commerce on the Indus in a letter for the information of the Governor of Bombay in Council
• The recommendation of Brigadier F Farquharson, Colonel commanding in Lower Scinde, that the bunder [landing-place] at Kurachee be repaired and extended
• The Government of India instructing that the account current with a merchant of Kurrachee, Naomull Hotchund [Naomal Hotchand], for supplying camels for the use of the Bombay Army in Sinde may be passed and debited to the Government of India
• The British Agent at Sonmeeanee [Sonmiani or Somiani, also spelled Soomeanee in this item], Lieutenant M F Gordon, forwarding to the Government of Bombay reports on the trade of the sea port of Sonmeeanee, and the past and present relations between the Khan of Kelat [Khān of Kalat] and the Jam of Beila [Las Bela], and the Government of India requesting Gordon to submit a more detailed report on the rights, views and resources of the Beila Chiefship
• Gordon requesting permission to draw civil salary from the date of his appointment as British Agent at Soomeanee
• The Political Agent in Upper Sindh submitting a list of transit duties levied on goods arriving at and departing from Shikarpore [Shikarpur]
• A reconnoitring survey of the direct road between Kurrachee and Sehwan in Lower Scinde by Lieutenant J H Margary of the Field Engineers, with a plan of the survey (f 944)
• A report on the route from Hyderabad to Nuggur Parkur [Nagarparkar] by Lieutenant John Jacob of the Bombay Artillery
• The application from the officer commanding the Poona [Pune] Auxiliary Horse for the detachment of that corps now in Upper Sinde to be allowed to return to Head Quarters
• The Government of Bombay requesting the Political Agent in Lower Sinde and the Political Agent in Cutch [Kutch or Kachchh] to report on what carriage may be procurable for the movement of troops to reinforce the Field Force in Upper Sinde, and the rates at which it could be obtained by purchase or hire
• The Military Board, Bombay, reporting for the information of the Governor of Bombay in Council the heavy ordnance which can be supplied from the Grand Arsenal, fully equipped and in a state of readiness to be shipped to any quarter on the opening of the season, and the number of muskets and amount of musket ammunition in store
• The complaint of the state prisoner Goolam Hyder Khan [Ghulām Ḥaydar Khān], son of Dost Mahomed Khan [Dūst Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy], of the reduction of the original allowance granted to him by the Government of Bombay.

The main correspondents in the enclosures which are present in this item are as follows: the Government of Bombay; the Government of India; and Outram. Other correspondents include: Bean; Gordon; the Military Board; Oliver; the Quarter Master General of the Army, Lieutenant-Colonel Neil Campbell; and Goolam Hyder Khan.

The enclosures also include the following plans by Captain G P Le Messurier, Acting Assistant Quarter Master General, Bombay Army (enclosure number 76):

• ‘A PLAN of the Town and Fort of Islamkote [Islamkot]’ (f 962)
• ‘The appearance of the Fort [of Islamkote] from A’ [point A on the plan on f 962] (f 961v)
• A plan of Omerkote [Umerkote] (f 964)
• ‘Gateway of Omerkote from A [point A on the plan on f 964]’ (f 963v)
• ‘A Skeleton Map shewing [showing] the Principle Routes through a part of the Thurr [Thar Desert]’ (f 965)
• ‘CONTINUATION of a sketch plan of the route from BALLEEYAREE [Baliari] to HYDERABAD viâ ISLAMKOTE and OMERKOTE’ (f 966)
• ‘A Sketch Plan of the Route from Balleeyaree to HYDERABAD viâ Islamkote and Omerkote’ (f 967)
• ‘ROUTE from OMERKOTE to Balmeer [Balmere or Balmer]’ (‘drawn up Dyalsing Private Guide Quarter Master General’s Department’ and signed by Lemessurier) (f 968).

The enclosures additionally include a copy of a news letter from the Assistant Secretary to the Government of India, dated 30 June 1840 (enclosure number 105), containing a summary of the latest intelligence from various places. The report is comprised of intelligence under the following headings: North West Frontier; Afghanistan; Aden; Assam; Bombay; Muscat; China; Singapore (also spelled Singpoor in this item); Herat; Nipal [Nepal]; Scinde; and Miscellaneous.