'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎391] (422/582)

TRADE OF BUSSORAH.
391
them, as before, seized the others, and condemned them as smug
gled goods; by which, it is said, there was a loss of two lacks of
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , or 20,000/. sterling, sustained by these shrewd experiment
alists of Bussorah.
It has been observed, that all nations having a tariff established
by treaty with the Porte, have their duties regulated by this; and
that all other traders, of whatever country or denomination, are
included in the laws and regulations applying to the subjects of
the Empire. This was exemplified in a late instance of the arrival
of two American vessels here, on a voyage of speculation and en
quiry, who brought with them a variety of articles for sale, and
money to purchase returns, if no market could be found for their
imports. As these were not English, the Turks were at first a
little puzzled to decide whether they could be considered as Euro
peans, or as their own subjects. Unfortunately for their delibera
tions, enquiry proved them to be neither. Yet they were certainly
Fringhis, or Franks, as every one might see ; but they came from
the Yenghi Doonya, or the New World, which, according to the
opinion of some of the most learned sages of the town, was itself
dropped from the moon about four hundred years ago. The Book
of Estimates at the Bussorah Custom-house was made, as they all
agreed, long before this New World had existed; so that no pro
vision was made in it for the subjects of such a country: and as
to their nation, as Americans, they knew of neither an ambassador
from, nor a treaty with them, existing at Constantinople; so that
they were, from all these considerations, a sort of nondescript
people, whom they knew not how to class. Fortunately, however,
for the Americans, the British Resident possessed influence enough
to turn the scale; and by his suggestion they were considered as
Franks, and dealt with accordingly, being subjected only to the
duties paid by the English.
The duties on exports are differently regulated. On dates
and grain a small duty is paid by natives to a Coasting Custom
house near the entrance of the creek, which is farmed by a dif-