"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎١‎٩‎٠] (١٧٨٢/١٣٤٥)

1190
same site as at the present day ; near to the Mu'adhdhara gate. Tbe
garrison as Baghdad amounted to about 5^000 men, including iiOO
Janissaries, some cavalry, and about 60 artillerists,—the last under the
command of Signor Michael, a European who had taken part in tbe
siege of 1638 on the side of the Turks. The trade of the city, though
considerable, was less than it had been under the Persians ; this was
attributed to the slaughter by the Turks, at the capture of the place,
of many of the richest merchants ; and from Tavernier's remarks it
may be inferred that Baghdad was in 1652 to a great extent depopula
ted. The majority of the inhabitants were Shi'ahs, but they were
obliged to behave with civility towards JSunnis and the followers of
other religions. On the Tigris below Baghdad taxes on buffaloes and
other animals were collected by the Turkish olHcials as at the present
time.
The ruler of Basrah in 1652 was Husain Pasha, a son of 'Ali Paslia
and grandson of Afrasiyab Pasha ; this ruler, like his two predecessors,
considered himself virtually independent of the Porte. Since his
accession to power he had strengthened Qurnah, of which his son was
governor, with a second wall ; his fort there was well provided with
artillery, and at Qurnah all vessels proceeding down the river were
examined and supplied with passes showing the amount of customs duty
to which they were liable and which they must pay at Basrah. At
Basrah the police arrangements were admirable, and the port was
frequented by many foreigners including the Dutch, who came annually
bringing spices, the English, who dealt in pepper and to a less extent in
cloves, and Indians who imported calico, indigo and miscellaneous goods;
there were also many traders from other parts of the Turkish Empire. The
principal source of the Pasha's w r ealth was a tax upon date palms; but
he also derived considerable profit from coining his own money; and
customs duty was collected at Basrah at a rate nominally of five per cent.,
but in practice of four only. There were no longer any Portuguese
friars at Basrah; but Carmelites, at this time Italians, still
remained.
I he policy of Husain Pasha was liberal, especially towards Christians,
and brought him wealth ; he extended the town wall of Basrah to the
bank of the Shatt-al-'Arab and built a fortified residence in the suburb
now known as Manawi; and at last he so far presumed upon the prosper
ity of his affairs as to commit aggressions on the Baghdad Pashaliq and
to annex some of its villages. H e w r as successful in repelling a fom
which the Turks then despatched against him from Baghdad j but a young