"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٥‎٨‎٣] (١٧٨٢/١٧٣٨)

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1583
judgrf of the expediency of such a measure, and the propriety of any similar action
taken by him in reason and good faith cannot be questioned. Tu these oircumstances
the responsibility for any untoward circumstances arising from the employment
of lascars would rest with the Resi lent.
On the 1st April 1905 the British Residency at Baghdad was trans- The
ferred from the place where it had been established at a date earlier bufwbgat
than 1840, on the river front about the middle of the town, to a more Baghdad,
eligible site further down the river, but on the same (that is, the
eastern) bank.
The old Residency had its advantages and was thus described by
a traveller * in 1878 :
By far the pleasantest place in Baghdad is the British Residency, a beautiful old
house built round two large courtyards and having a long frontage to the river.
There is a delightful terrace overlooking the water, with an alley of old orange trees
and a Kiosque or summer-house and steps, leading down to a little quay where the
consular boats are moored. Inside, the house is decorated in the Persian style of
the last century, one of the most elaborate and charming styles ever invented,
with deep fretted ceilings, walls panelled in minute cabinet work, sometimes inlaid
with looking glass, sometimes richly gilt. Only the dining room is studiously
English, in deference to Anglo-Indian prejudice, its decorations, apparently fresh
from Maple's, forming a theme for admiration for the Bagdadis who come to pay
their respects to Her Majesty's Consul-General
The building was the property of the Nawab Iqbal-ud-Daulah at
the time of his death in 1887 and was held on lease from him at a rent
of ft^Ol 1 a year, towards which the Government of India contributed
111,884-, the Resident Rl,200, the Residency Surgeon R570, and
His Majesty's Government R3G0. After the death of the Nawab the
property continue 1 to be leased on the same terms from his trustees.
In 1896 the building was bought by Agha Muhammad, himself a
trustee, who was also British Agent at Kadhimain, for R 1,24,750 ;
and from the 1st May of that year the rent was increased to R4,990
per annum, of which R2,550 was borne by the Government of India
(who also allowed a sum not exceeding Rl,200 a year for repairs),
Hl,400 by the Resident, R570 by the Residency Surgeon, and R470
by His Majesty's Government. The lease was renewed for three
years on these terms in 1899, and once again for three years in 1902,
on the old conditions for the first year but on a monthly rent of E460
for the second and R580 for the third year, exclusive of the allowance
for repairs.
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* Lady Anne Blunt {Bedouins of the Euphrates, Volume I, page 188).