'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎1479] (1634/1782)

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bequeathing their allowances to Mujtehed^ at Kerbella and Nejeff, to be distributed by
them to poor and indigent persons. Thi^ testamentary disposition was after their
deaths carried into effect, and every month Rs. 10 000 is paid through the 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. at
Faghdad into the hands of the Arabian and Persian Doctors of the Fauh at Kerbella and
Nejeff. who are l ot more her,est than they need be. Herein the following particulars
are to be noted In the first place, it is impossible to know and distinguish who are
bona file Mujteheds, seeing that there is no list by which to recognize them. They are
not like Bishops and Archbishops in England, who are po-sessed of credentials from
the Gov rnment or the public showing their authority. So far from that, any beggar
or destitute wretch belonging to Arabia or Persia who may chance to set himself up
and twist several yard^ of black cloth or white cloth round his head, and take a long
staff in his hand and wear a flowing beard, and collect a parcel of dissolute bullies about
him, may call himself a Mujtehed, and there is nothing outwardly nor inwardly to
prove it except his beard, his stall, and his turban.
Secondly. —All tl.ia money goes in misplaced and meaningless ex r enditare, »nd
for most unholy purposes. Every pennv o£ it goes into the hands of rich people who
don't want it, or canaille, or bailies, or rogues, or Arabian and Pets.an merchants who
posses, landed estates a'.d wealth and .11 that agriculture and commerce can gi.e
them-legitimate incomes and gains of all kinds. Meantime the natives oi I"0»,
who, poor creatures, are a most numerous hody, many of them o goo »n
noble families, the descendants of Princes an^ Noblemen, and have taken up
their residence at Kerbella and Nejeff and become resident, there, and pas- then
lives in starving poverty, are shut out from participatrug in this money
miserable tr.fle onl,, so small that it is not worth mention,ng, is given
just to keep up the pretence of relieving them; and now this is wrung fiom t
Mujteheds of the country only by force and threats.
Now the Arabs and Persians are neither friends nor subjects of the English Gov em
ment, whereas the natives of India •«, « i. ^
sense and justice to fatten one's enemies and starve one " frletld '' u ' 61 J' , ,
or right have the Arabs and Persians to themoney ef India f Wha says the pioierb^
.. The earth from a well must be used for that well." The peop e -P ^ j
nor advantage from the Arab, and Persians; then why should benefits ^
Jew from the natives of India to the Arabs and Persians , The piover ^
to those that give to you." Besides all this, tbe Arabs and P.™.^ J
ing benefits from the people ot India, are not g.atetul for them, but, on J
return ingratitude, as I with mv own ear. have heard again and again Mean me al
this money is expended in debauchery and unlawful things and fol . ^ *
thousand, of quarrels aed disturbances, as I know well an ave seen
The Resident at H.gbdad, both past and present, are well acquanted »
1 —t ^ a corroboration of in y —
doubt m the matter may be cleaie p. Henry Bawlinson is
and tbe good and bad of the question will e c 6811 ^ " Kem Wl is even more so, for
well acquainted with the «'7 msta ; Ce \ b " f t d tt and I desire that enq dry may
he has gone thoroughly into the matter and _ ' ignorance of it. It
be made of these officers, for knowledge of a thing is je ei
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