IOR/L/PS/6/734, ff 40-123

This item is a collection to Bombay Political Despatch No. 52 of 31 July 1867, from the Secretary of State for India to the Government of Bombay Political Department (the Political Despatch itself is not included in this item). The collection consists of papers forwarded with the Government of Bombay’s Political Despatch No. 29 of 23 May 1867 to the Secretary of State for India, chiefly on the proceedings of Syed Toorkee [Sayyid Turkī bin Sa‘īd Āl Bū Sa‘īd; Syud, Sayid, Torkee and Turki also used in this item] at Muscat [frequently spelled Muskat in this item]. The collection was compiled for information purposes for the Secretary of State for India to compose the answering Political Despatch.

The papers cover and include the following:

• Syed Toorkee’s attempt in September 1866 to capture Muscat and avenge the death of the late Sultan [Sulṭān Thuwaynī bin Sa‘īd Āl Bū Sa‘īd], rumoured to have been murdered by his son the current Sultan, Sayed Saulem [Sayyid Sālim bin Thuwaynī Āl Bū Sa‘īd], including: his seizure and occupation of the main fort; his withdrawal from the fort due to depleted supplies and lack of British mediation on his behalf; and his departure from Muscat with a boat, supplies and money lent by Sayed Saulem
• Reports by the Acting Native Agent Muscat and the Agent at Shargah [Sharjah] on the location, movements and actions of Syed Toorkee following his failed attack, including: his residing in Debaye [Dubai, also spelled Debay in this item] and relationships with the Beni Yas [Banī Yās, also spelled Beniyas in this item] rulers of Debaye and Aboothaby [Abu Dhabi, also spelled Abuthaby in this item]; and his failure to garner their full support to mount another attack
• Sayed Saulem’s demand that the British Government restrain and punish Syed Toorkee for his assault on Muscat, blaming the attack on Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis Pelly, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, who had released Syed Toorkee from confinement at Bushire [Bushehr] in the belief that he would go to Kowait [Kuwait]
• The British Government’s suspension of Syed Tookee’s monthly allowance of 300 rupees for violating the ‘Maritime Peace’ [Treaty of Maritime Peace in Perpetuity 1853]
• The Government of India’s prohibition on British officials assisting Syed Toorkee in any way whatsoever, and declaration that in view of its having recognised Sayed Saulem as Sultan of Oman, anyone who attacks that territory will be treated as an enemy
• Warnings issued by Pelly, on behalf of the Government of India, to Syed Toorkee, the rulers of Debaye, Aboothaby, Zanzibar, and the Wahabee Ameer [Wahhābī Amīr], Abdullah ben Faysal, Ameer of Nejd [‘Abdullāh bin Fayṣal Amīr of Najd] against further attacks on Muscat
• The Government of India’s authorisation to Pelly to take necessary measures to maintain the maritime peace and the lives and property of British subjects at Muscat
• An assessment by the Acting Political Agent in Muscat of the political positions and popularity of Sayed Saulem and Syed Toorkee.

The papers also include:

• Pelly’s instructions in January 1867 to the Bushire Residency Head Moonshee [munshi, secretary] to proceed to Muscat to assess the finances and records of the Agency, following the death of the Native Agent, and to temporarily take over the latter’s role
• A purported account of Sayed Saulem’s unsuccessful request for advice from his mother during Syed Toorkee’s attack on Muscat (f 63r).

The enclosed papers consist of copies of correspondence and resolutions of the Government of Bombay. The main correspondents are the following: the Government of Bombay; the Government of India; Pelly; the Acting Native Agent at Muscat; Syed Saulem; Syud Toorkee; the British Agent at Shargah; and the Acting Political Agent, Muscat.