"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٣‎٢‎٦] (١٧٨٢/١٤٨١)

be passiDg through Baghdad at the time and were staying with Mr. Rich
was immediately put in a state of defence. The garrison of the Political
Agency including the military guard and a number of local depen
dents of Turkish nationality who were personally devoted to Mr. Kich
and refused to desert him, mustered nearly 100 muskets; and the
management of the defence was undertaken by Captain J. Elliot, one
of Mr. Riches temporary guests. On the sides towards the main
town the house was protected by the narrowness of the streets leading
towards it, but it was open to artillery fire from the opposite side of
the river. Among other precautions the Agency yacht was brought close
under the walls of the building in order to prevent her being seized by the
Turks. The British Political Agent was as popular with the inhabitants
» he city as the Pasha was at this time generally disliked; and there
was good reason to think that, if a shot should be fired, risings would
at once be commenced by sympathisers with the British in various
parts of the city, which would seriously embarrass the Turks. It was
aleo said that the Commandant of the Turkish Imperial Artillerv at
Baghdad refused to act against the British, unless the Pasha could
produce an order from Constantinople a. a warrant for his proceedings.
The British dispositions for defence had hardly been completed when
< as la s tloops were seen to be in motion : some occupied the river bank
be ow the Agency, probably with a view to cutting off the Agent's
retreat by water; others were posted in different quarters of the town to
overawe the inhabitants; and a body of regular infantry took up a posi-
tmn in the immediate neighbourhood of the Agency. The bazaars of
the city w«e at once closed and all business was suspended. The Com-
— "i i PaSha ' S infantlT ' aao W friend of Mr. Rich, by whom
>s le ad been saved on a former occasion, then visited the Agency
acc<™panied by another Turkish officer ; by the hand of the latter,' will
send to theTT « t , 0£ aDy meSSage that Mr - Rich mi g ht wish to
comnk' t H ^ despatched a ha.ty note in Turkish,
mplainmg of the threatening movements of the troops; and, ,luring
Mr rLT ■ f ^ ^ IufaUtry ^^ndant remained with
to prevent iZ K, "f ^is determination
Affencv Othe P ffi S ' / c"" ' ^ 111:41011 by hiS 0Wn corps a ? ain6t th «
Jextort a . 0lil f Cials fr0m the ^ tten appeared and endeavoured
to extort a promtse from the Agent that he would not leave Baghdid
^ h dlltStT ^ kT 1 g0vernme,lt had ^ mr.
in tl nei!htnrl , T' T 80 ^ a6 0ne ,rurki8h soldi «
neighbourhood, than that he would not quit Baghdad during the