IOR/L/PS/5/358, ff 88-117

The enclosures concern the proceedings in Bahrain [also spelled Bahrein in this item] of Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis Pelly, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and a British naval force commanded by G A Douglas, Senior Naval Officer of Her Majesty’s Ships, in November and December 1869. They cover:

• The removal from Bahrain of Mahomed ben Abdullah [Muḥammad bin ‘Abdullāh Āl Khalīfah, also spelled Abdoollah in this item], who had in August 1869, with the assistance of Nauser ben Mobarek [Nāṣir bin Mubārak], invaded the island, killed the ruler Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa [Shaikh ‘Alī bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah] and usurped the throne
• British involvement in the installation of Esau ben Ali ben Khuleefah [Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah, also spelled Essau ben Alee in this item] (son of the murdered ruler) as the new ruler of Bahrain
• Pelly’s communications with the Abdulla ben Faysul [‘Abdullāh bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], Wahabee Ameer [Wahhābī Amīr] of Najd, whom Pelly suspects of prior knowledge of and collusion in the ‘piratical’ attack on Bahrain in August 1869, in violation of his agreement with Britain of 21 April 1866 (an accusation wholly disclaimed by the Ameer).

Pelly’s narrative reports for the Government of India describe: the naval blockade of Bahrain; the prevention of a breach of the blockade by a Persian [Iranian] envoy seeking an alliance with Mahomed ben Abdullah; the naval bombardment of the Menamah [Manama] Fort leading to Nasuer ben Mobarek’s ousting and eventual capture and arrest on board HM gun boat Clyde; the enforced surrender from the Maharag [Muharraq] Fort of Mahomed ben Khaleefah [Shaikh Muḥammad bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah] (a former ruler of Bahrain); British encouragement of Esau ben Ali on the Guttur [Qatar] coast to arrive at Bahrain with his fleet and to assume the government of the island as an independent ruler (f 96).

The principal correspondent is Pelly. His reports include copies of his letters to and from: the ‘rebels’ in possession of Bahrain; Esau ben Alee; the Ruler of Guttur; Mahomed ben Abdullah; Abdullah ben Faysul; and the Governor of Kateef [Qatif].

A map formerly contained in this item entitled ‘Bahrein Island, Whabee Coast, Guttur Coast’ was removed and transferred to the Maps collection, catalogued as IOR/W/L/PS/5/358 (i).