'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.' [‎392] (423/582)

392
NAVAL FORCE OF BUSSORAH.
ferent person from the one who holds the great Custom-house
above. This duty extends, however, to such dates and grain as
are shipped from the creek, or immediately opposite to Bussorah,
as the same articles taken on board in the river, about a quarter
of a mile below, or at Minawi, are not liable to it; and this ex
emption continues throughout all the river below, even to the bar.
The English pay no export duty on these or any other articles,
which may serve as, or can be considered in the nature of, pro
visions, whether shipped from Bussorah or any other part of the
river. On the export of copper, gall-nuts, lametta, and all goods
brought down from Bagdad, which is the point of union for all
the land caravans, there is a duty of five and a half per cent,
paid by the natives, and three per cent, by the English ; and
as the valuation in both cases is nearly the same, the advantage
is on the side of the British trader. Cochineal and coral, which
come in large quantities across the Desert from Aleppo, are equally
subject to this duty of five and a half per cent, ad valorem ; but
though these are annually sent from this port to India to an
amount of many thousand pounds in value, they are invariably
smuggled off to the ships ; and though the Government are aware
of the extent to which this is carried, and are defrauded by it
of a large sum yearly, yet no steps are taken to put a stop to
the practice ; nor are any boats or persons seized with it, though
its conveyance is always effected openly, and in broad day. On
treasure, whether in coin, bullion, pearls, or precious stones, no
duty is exacted; and if it were, it would be still more easily
evaded than that on the two last-mentioned articles, since the
packages are always of less bulk and compass.
The naval force of Bussorah was once sufficiently powerful
to command the whole of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and the Turkish
fleet, as it was called, in the time of Suliman Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Bagdad,
consisted of about twenty well-armed vessels, which were kept in
actual service in that sea. These have now dwindled away to
five or six old and unserviceable vessels, not one of which could