'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎181r] (361/540)

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writes you regarding a request made hy Cunm Gaun, the Vaheel of Persia, for
the English and Turkish ships to assist him in his war against the Muscat Arabs
a request Your JExoellency must suppose that is not in my power, with respect
to the English ships to comply with ; the Vakeel threatens in case his request is
not granted, to march down his force and destroy Bussora ) this intelligence is
confirmed to me by a letter written thirteen days ago from Sehiras by
Messieurs Beaumont and Green and received by me yesterday ; In my humble
opinion therefore it behoves Your Excellency to order down your troops imme
diately for the defence of this place, and give orders to the difPerent tribes of
Arabs to march down to the banks of this River, to prevent the Persians from
landing on this side of it—the sooner this is done the better, as Bussora accord
ing to my notions is in no state of defence whatever; Was it not for my appre
hensions of the Persians coming down, and of the Plague's breaking out again
in the spring, it would be very easy for me to send down a Cruizer to Muscat
in order to convoy up the trade from that place ; but according to the present
unfavourable appearance of things, the English Cruizers I am much afraid
will have other employment.
CCIV.
Extract from a letter from the Agent at Basrah to the JPaiha dated the 14tk December
1774.
The accounts that I have received here of the hostilities that have taken
place in Ooordistan between the troops of Your Excellency and the troops of
Currim Caun, the vakeel of Persia, and the warlike preparations that I also
learn Currim Caun is making induce me to suspect the Oaun may have some
design against Bussorah. * * * * design is to embark on
on the board English cruisers, with all the English gentlemen that are at
present at Bussorah and continue in the river until I know the result of
Currim Caun's operations. I indended also to have shipped off all the Com
pany's property and the property of all the English merchants, but as your
Mussaleem During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. has informed me that my doing this would be the ruin of the place,
because it would occasion all the inhabitants to leave it, I have therefore
desisted, your Mussaleem During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. , the Dufterdar and Sheikh Dervise ; having engage^
in your and the Sultan's name, amply to indemnify the India Company and
all the English merchants at Bussorah for whatever losses they may sustain by
their being prevented from shipping off such effects as they may at present
have laying in their warehouses at Bussorah.
ccv.
To—The Honourable W illiam H ornby, Esq., President and Governor etc.
Council of Bombay, 1 '*
Hon'ble Sir and Siks,
Our last address of the 16th February and the extracts of our diary Letter from
relative to Persian affairs then transmitted will have informed you of the reports a/fias h nd Coanoil