'Precis Containing Information in regard to the First Connection of the Hon'ble East India Company with Turkish Arabia, as far as the Same Can Be Traced from the Records of the Bombay Government, together with the Names of the Several British Residents and Political Agents Who Have Been Stationed at Bagdad [Baghdad] and Bussorah [Basra] between A.D. 1646 and 1846, accompanied by Other Information' [‎50v] (102/226)

70 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
Soliraan Beg, in the event of his having obtained an appointment as Pacha of Bagdad,
and of his establishing himself in the office, would preserve in • his former attachment
to the English, and still acknowledge the obligations which he has frequently confessed
to be under to me for my kind attention to his brother, Mahomed Beg. in the year 1785.
I most anxiously hope that Soliman, the present Pacha, may long hold the reins of the
Government of this country. Although his conduct has not been such as his obliga
tions to the English ought to have dictated to him, he still feels, and sometimes
acknowledges, those obligations. He is really partial to the English, and by an undul-
gent conduct towards the merchants gives more encouragement to them than other
Pachas have done. I beg leave to assure you that to increase the credit and influence
of the Hon'ble Company's factory An East India Company trading post. here is, and shall be, my constant study. The
Ghessal Arabs continue to obstruct the communication between Bussorah and Bagdad
by the River Euphrates, the merchants are therefore under the necessity of sending
their goods by the River Tigris at great expense, and with much loss of time. In
consequence of the wars and troubles now existing in this country, and of the waters
of the River Tigris and Euphrates not having risen to their usual height during the
last year, a general scarcity of all kinds of provisions now unfortunately prevails, and
the prices thereof have risen in an enormous degree."
163. On the 6th May 1787 Shaik Swiney, one of the Montifick
Arab Chiefs, entered Bussorah with a larg-e force, took possession of the
town and Turkish fleet, and imprisoned the Mussaleetn (or Governor).
Shaik Swiney retained possession of Bussorah until the early part of
October 1787, when the Pacha, who had moved up with an army from
Bagdad, attacked Shaik Swiney's forces and put them to flight.
The Pacha's troops then took possession of the town, and on the
November, Mustapha Aga, who had been appointed by the Pacha, Mus-
saleem, made a public entry into Bussorah. Mustapha Aga was, however,
removed by the Pacha in the Government of Bussorah in the early part
of 1789, and was succeeded by Esau Beg, who assumed charge of the
Government by order of the Pacha on the 15th March 1789. Esau Beg
was, however, removed by the Pacha on the 22nd October of the same
year, and was succeeded by Mahomed Aga. In a further letter, dated the
10th March 1791, the Resident stated that the most perfect tranquillity
had for a long time past existed at Bussorah, and that Shaik Swiney had
a short time before thrown himself on the mercy of the Pacha, and with
his followers had repaired to Bagdad, where on his arrival he had been
received by the Pacha in a very honorable manner.
164. In a statement framed under orders from Government by
the Civil Auditor in December 1844, which was forwarded to the Gov
ernment of India on the 24th January 1845, the whole of the changes
which occurred in the constitution of the Bussorah Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. from 1788
to 184? are exibited in detail, together with the names of the various
officers who during that period held the appointment of Resident, Assis
tant Resident, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , &c., and the salary and allowances drawn
by each officer; it will therefore, I conclude, be unnecessary in the
remaining part of this summary to notice these appointments.
165. In a letter dated the 1st January 1792 the Resident and
Mr. Harford f Jones communicated the following intelligence to Gov
ernment :—
" In our address of the 16th October we had the honor to communicate information
that a rupture would probably take place between this Government and the Chaub
* The precise date cannot be ascertained from the records.
f Who was associated with the Resident under the denomination of " Joint Factor."