'Persian Gulf. Slave Trade. Importation of Slaves into Rassel Khyma and Sharga, by...

The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence and minutes, which are enclosures to an extract of a Political Letter from the Government of Bombay to the East India Company Court of Directors, dated 31 March 1849. A copy of this letter can be found at IOR/F/4/2343/123024. The item relates to investigations carried out by Moollah Houssein [Mullā Ḥusayn], Agent at Shargah [Sharjah], following reports of enslaved people being imported into the territories of Sheik Sultan ben Sugger, the Joasmee 'Chief' [Shaikh Sulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī, Leader of al-Qawāsim tribe]. Moollah Houssein's report includes:. Details of the people accused of carrying on the 'slave trade' [trade in enslaved people]: Syf bin Saleh [Sayf bin Ṣāliḥ] and the sons of Ali bin Ateek ['Alī bin ʿAtīq, also rendered in text as Ateej]; Details of the people who were enslaved and to whom they were sold; A letter from Sheik Sultan defending his subjects, blaming the people of Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh], and accusing people of Soor [Sur] and the rulers of Ejmaun [Ajman] and Amulgavine [Umm al-Qaywayn] of also taking part in the 'slave trade'; Samuel Hennell, Resident in the Persian Gulf, forwards on the report to the Government of Bombay, alongside his own judgements on the subject. The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Bombay Political Department', 'Draft No. 189 of 1850', 'Vol: 2', 'Collection No 4 of No 29', and 'Examiner's Office'.

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the item. The item also contains a table of contents (f 129), noting 'No.', 'From', 'To', 'Subject', 'Date & No of Docu[men]t' and 'Date & No. of Cons[ultation]'.

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