"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٤‎٤‎٠] (١٧٨٢/١٥٩٥)

1U0
proved, the later destinies of Turkey. The despatch of Colonel C. Herbert
Acting- British Political Agent and Consul-General at Baghdad, in whic'i
Mid-hat Pasha-'s earliest actions at Baghdad are described, is given below
in extenso : it was dated 26th May 1869 and was addressed to His
Britannic Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople.
I have the honour to report the arrival, on the 30th ultimo, of His Excellency
Mid-hut Pasha, Governor-General of Turkish Arabia, accompanied by Shaker Be^,
Lieutenant-Governor (Muteserif) of Baghdad, Raef Beg, Sectary (Maaoon), Hamdy
Beg, Attache (Mudeer) for Foreign Affairs, together with several subordinate officers of
different grades.
His Excellency entered the city in state at an early hour, being met by all the
principal employes of the Government and representatives from the Consulates of
England and France.
On the third day after his arrival, the firman of his appointment was publicly read
at the Government House (Serai), when His Excellency addressed the assembly, telling
his audience that he had come hither with an earnest desire to benefit the country and
enrich the people ; that he proposed to introduce many changes and reforms which, he
hoped, would be beneficial, changes which, perhaps, they might not at first altogether
approve, but which they would appreciate when they had experienced the advantages
that would accrue to them therefrom.
He commenced his career by the abolition of the following taxes, which are said to
have been peculiarly local, and have proved obstructive and oppressive :
1st.—Ihtisab, or octroi duty levied on all produce brought into the city gates for
sale in the market.
2nd.-—Talibiyeh, a tax on the native craft on the rivers.
3rd.—Khums Hateb, a tax of 20 per cent, on fuel brought to the city on rafts
and in boats.
4thRoosbukar, the tax,on irrigation wheels of the Arab cultivators.
In lieu of these taxes, he has established one of 10 per cent* on the produce of
gardens and fields.
His Excellency is organising several new Councils (Mejlises), of which the members
are to be paid, instead of, as heretofore, working gratuitously, with the opportunity of
making- what they could—a source of corruption and trouble.
He has introduced the Wilayet system and J have the honour to forward a copy
(with translation) of a communication which has been addressed to the Foreign Consu
lates on this subject.
His Excellency has deputed an officer, Serri Effendi, to re-open an old canal called
" Kenanieh " fl0m Euphrates into the " Seglawieh " canal, which falls into the
ligiis, with the view to lorming a channel of communication between the two great
rivers, to be conducted by means of small steam vessels which it is proposed to bring
from Europe for the service.
He has also deputed a steamer to proceed up the Euphrates to endeavour to arrange
for the ultimate * opening of the navigation of that river, with which object he proposes
• In May 1872 Midihat Pasha himself ascended the Euphrates, from the head of the Saqlawiyah, canal to
as anah, m the Tarkish steamer " Furat." He was accompanied, as a guest, by Captain Powell of the
ittfo t ' 4 ? ' cf the Residency steamer "Comet." An account of the voyage by the
high riyer 8 ' 8 0Wf5 ^ difficulties of navigation encountered were extreme, notwithstanding a