"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٢‎٤‎٤] (١٧٨٢/١٣٩٩)

1244
between the British Agent at Basrah and the Pasha at Baghdad, the
latter of whom did not readily agree to a lucrative traffic being carried
on across his territories otherwise than through the capital, where it
could be closely supervised. In the spring of 1773, however, in conse
quence of the outbreak of plague at Baghdad, the Psisha authorised the
despatch of a caravan direct from Basrah to Aleppo; but Mr. Moore,
the British Agent, was unable in the haste of his departure to take
advantage of the concession, and after his return he coi'ld not at once
obtain its renewal. In April 1774 the necessary leave was at last given;
and about the same time a caravan from Aleppo came in at Basrah.
British The British Factory at Basrah still occupied the same site in the
Basra!/ and native town as in 1766 ; and vessels of 80 tons, lying in the creek,
customs and could load and unload cargo at its very gate. On the opposite side of
the East tl 16 creek was a good garden belonging to the Factory; and the
Indian^Com* Company's Agent hadj besides, a country house at Magil, the modern
1775. Kut-al-Farangi, which, though it stood about half a mile inland from
the water's edge, commanded an excellent view both up and down the
S hat t-al-'Arab.
All goods brought in British ships, including the whole of the im-"
ports from India, paid ft a duty and consulage" to the East India
Company, amounting to 6 per cent., which was distinct from the customs
levied by the Turkish administration; and the annual proceeds of the
impost or imposts in qaestion were, chiefly because of the Indian trade,
not inconsiderable. In February 1774;, the British Agent informed the
Pasha that he feared much merchandise was being fraudulently passed
through the Baghdad custom house in his name at the European, or
lower, rate of duty; and he requested that in future no goods should be
treated there as British unless certified by himself to be such.
Siege and reduction of Basrah by the Persians, 1775—1776.
The occupation of Basrah by the Persians, which was the principal
event in the history of Turkish "Iraq during the reign of the Sultan
'Abdul Hamid, was neither unexpected nor sudden. On the contrary,
an assault upon the town had been threatened for more than a year
before any was actually made ; and the event seems to have been in the
end precipitated by successes which the Turks themselves gained, in
Kurdistan, over the Persians. The further period of a year which