'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎1360] (1515/1782)

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officers throughout tho Pashalic pursue the one sole object of raising money. I have
in vain endeavoured to obtain materials for drawing up a return of what maybe
considered unjust and oppressive taxes. Such a task indeed is quite impracticable
for the rates and amounts are daily fluctuating according as the Collectors discover a
mott? lucrative machinery of taxation, and any return moreover, however authentic
and elaborate, would convey but a very imperfect idea of the real pressure upon the
labouring classes and the consumers, as the realisation of every item of revenue is
in the hands of contractors, who are permitted to put in practice all conceivable means
of extortion, even to the infliction of personal torture, provided they fulfil their pecu
niary obligations to the Government. The trade in corn since the last harvest has
been a monopoly in the hands of the Government and the price to the consumer
accordingly has been more than double that which was' warranted by the abundant
resources of the country. On animal food and fruit and vegetables, the duties under
a variety of denominations amount to an average of about 50 per cent, ad valorem,
and dates/ which to the Arab population constitute the real necessary of life, are
hardly less extravagantly taxed. All the internal trades to which the wants of the
community give extension or importance, are reserved as monopolies, and farmed out
to-the highest bidder, among those monopolies I may instance the manufacture of
soap, of spirits and of leather, the dyeing and painting of cloths, the cleaning of
cotton, the stoving and weighing of rice and grain, porterage, brokerage, etc. The transit
duties also are enormous on hides, wool, sheep skins, gall nuts, etc., the charges amount
sometimes to 30 per cent, ad valorem before the goods reach the gates of Baghdad,
and a further duty' of 12 per cent, is levied on entrance into the town. New taxes
too are being constantly added. Stamps are required for all public papers, whether
bonds, acquaintances, agreements or even petitions. The passport fees press heavily
on the poorer cla»ses and the exorbitant charges on conveyance of property, on the
realisation of money, on tho mere passing of contracts, deter the rich from making any
use of their capital. According to the data which I have collected from varions
quarters and which furnish at any rate the means of approximately estimating the
result of Nejib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's financial operations during the last year, I find that His
Excellency, who was granted a farm of the Baghdad Pashalic at the assumed gross
annual valuation of 60,000 purses (300,000£), has raised by ostensible means alone,
above 120,000 purses (t >00,000 £); and at the most moderate calculation for his extra'
ordinary profits, those I mean which have accrued from his grain monopoly, from Ms
Kaziehs on the Arabs, from confiscations, fines, presents, and above all from direct
bribes, T should be disposed to assess the entire proceeds of his Government at not
less than one million sterling, and when Your Excellency considers that during tho
interval in question no single fresh source of legitimate revenue has been opened, that
there has been no territorial acquisition ; no barren lands reclaimed from the desert;
no increased trade, or improved cultivation ; no discovery of metallic treasure; no
invention in manufactures or extension of produce ; but that on the contrary every
bianch of agriculture, commerce, enterprise and industry has very essentially declined,
you will understand that this immense sum^T^crentirely disproportioned to the present
capabilities of the province, could not have been raised without entailing a terrible
aitifiaiii inili\idual suEFering, and without calling forth a general execration of the
ruling power which sanctions, if it does not encourage, such grinding tyranny.