'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎250] (359/496)

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Tribes located on the debateable grounds ; and Colonel Taylor, tlien Re
sident at Baghdad, was written to on the subject. It was supposed
that Thamar, a deposed Sheikh of the Cha’ab Arabs, would not only
possess documents likely to be of service in settling that portion of the
frontier which included the port of Mahomerah on the Haflar, but be
well acquainted also with the geographical details of the country, and
intimate with local traditions, which often prove of great value in terri
torial research. This individual, deposed from the Sheikhship, and de
prived of his possessions by the Persian Ministers, was then a pensioner of
the Turkish Government, and residing under its protection, at Basra,
since his expulsion from the Cha’ab territory. I was dispatched in the
vessel I commanded to bring the ex-Chief from Basra to Baghdad, in
prosecution of his journey to Erzroum ; and in 1844: Colonel Taylor’s
successor at Baghdad (Major Bawlinson, c. B.,) determined on proceed
ing personally to Zohab, another portion of the disputed territory, not
only to collect information, but to procure an interview with the Amir
of Kirmanshah, and thereby carry out the arrangements he had made
with the local authority at Baghdad, for the preservation of peace in
their respective Governments, as well as to prevent any collision among
the tribes on the frontier, which might endanger the success of the Com
mission at Erzroum, or, at ail events, protract its labors to an indefinite
period.
Major Rawlinson contemplated proceeding on this duty in the sum
mer of 1844, and as during that time (unless emergent service required
her employment) the steam vessel which I had the honor to command
underwent the necessary annual refit, I determined on complying with
a requisition received from the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. to accompany him on the
journey. As this request was made solely with a view to the acquire
ment of a better geographical knowledge of this little-frequented, but
highly interesting, portion of Kurdistan, (which is deplorably incorrect
on our present maps) it was willingly acceded to, particularly as Major
Rawlinson s political labors would not allow him sufficient time to enter
fully also into the duties of the surveyor. The journey occupied near
ly two months, during which time many interesting sites were visited,
and their true positions astronomically obtained. On our return, a map,
constructed from the results ot the observations, was executed by Majer
Rawlinson and myself, and forwarded by that officer to H. M/s Ambas
sador at Constantinople, expressly to assist the Commissioners at Erzroum
m their enquiry; and the following pages, the simple record of oui