"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٢‎٩‎٨] (١٧٨٢/١٤٥٣)

Ambition of
the Agba of
Janissaries.
Conflict
between
Agba of
J anissari^s
and 'Ali
P§8ha, tbe
Kebiyab,
and defeat of
|be former.
1298
" the French Consul and the several persorm in his enployment, together
f< with all the papers belonging to the Comul, .to Constantinople;" and
the measures thus indicated were duly carriea into effect.
In October 1799 the French Factory at Basrah was in the hands of
the Turks, who used it to accommodate the embassy, already mentioned,
from Tipu Sultan of Mysore to the Sultan of Tuikey.
Interregmim at Baghdad, August 1802.
At the time of Sulaiman Pasha^s decease, the Agha of Janissaries
at Baghdad was a man of ability, enjoying the confidence of the Porte,
but popular also at Baghdad, where he had distinguished himself by his
excellent administration of the police. He was also ambitious. On the
fact of Sulaiman Pasha's serious illness first becoming known, he
sought an interview with Mr. Jones, the British Resident, at which,
after confessing that he had the succession to the Pashaliq in view, he
begged that a letter might be written on his behalf to the British
Ambassador at Constantinople. Mr. Jones however declined, at the
same time pointing out to the Agha that what was expected of him, in
accordance with the traditions of his office, was that he should take
charge of the Pasha's treasure at his death in the interests of the Porte
and should carry on the administration of the Pashaliq antil a successor
had been appointed from Constantinople; and he xdvised him to be
satisfied, in the first instance, with performing these duties, and not in
any case to put forward a personal claim to the Pasha iq without having
secured the treasure, which, if it came into the hands cf his competitors,
might be used against him with deadly effect.
On the morning of the day that Sulaiman Pasha diec, the Agha, whose
plans must have been laid beforehand, embarked boldly on an attempt
to seize the Government by force. At an early hour he sent Janissaries
to capture Muhammad Baig,* the great Arab, who was the agent
" at the Pacha's court for the Shaiks of all the tribes tributary to the
fc Pachalik, and who resided in a large house in the suburbs on the wes-
"tern side of the Tigrisbut the Baig had remained at the palace over-
• This was no doubt tbe Muhammad Baig who advised Sulaiman Pasha, to
condone tbe murder of Ahmad Fasha, and who afterwards accoaipanied 'AU PiBha's
expedition against the Wahbabis in 1798-1799. It is possiMe that be was also
the Muhammad Baig whose brother Haii Sulaiman Baig bid rebelled in 1786;
see page 1273 ante*