"ملخّص يحتوي على معلومات بشأن الاتصال الأول لشركة الهند الشرقية مع الجزيرة العربية التركية، طالما أمكن تتبع ذلك من سجلات حكومة بومباي، بالإضافة إلى أسماء العديد من المقيمين البريطانيين والوكلاء السياسيين الذين عُينوا في بغداد والبصرة في الفترة بين ١٦٤٦ و ١٨٤٦ ميلادي، وبمرافقة معلومات أخرى" [و‎‎٤‎١] (٢٢٦/٨٣)

WITH TURKISH A11AB1A— 1G46 TO 1846.
51
has been for a long time past upon the deeline, and the large caffalas which formerly
were passing between Bussorah and the Persian dominions are now never heard of but
in story, so that the sea import customs, trivial as they are when credited by all the
unavoidable charges of Government, are considered as the grand revenue source ol
Bussorah, one-half of even these, too, Soliman Aga had assigned over to the Hon'ble
Company for the payment of the Government s debt to them. From revenues thus
mutilated what can be expected, but they will still be less, if an oppressive Mussaleem
has the management of them, and the Pacha will then, too late, be sensible of the
misconduct of his administration. It is to this continual change of Government that
may in a great measure be attributed the present decline of the Ottoman power: not he
who best governs, but he who best can pay is the best qualified for posts of honor and
of trust; of this venal system every Turkish Governor is sensible, uncertain, therefore,
lest a higher bidder for 'Government may offer rapine and extortion is the almost
certain consequence. Soliman Aga, however, is by general suffrage allowed an exception ;
his successor, Abdool Khamaun" Beg, has taken advantage of the Pacha's avaricious
disposition, and of Ismael's enmity to Soliman Aga, and has paid down 4,(H)0 Zuma-
boobs to bring about this revolution. He has made many promises also to the Pacha and
Ismael of the large supplies of money that they shall receive from hence, and has
dazzled the whole Divan with the commercial advantage that is to accrue to Bussorah
under his management from the approaching peace with the Chaub, and the strict
alliance now forming with Carim Caun, by the Turkish Embassadour at the Court of
Sebipas. We have thought it our duty to dwell thus long on this subject that Your
Honor in Council may be as well acquainted with the constitution of this Government
as is in our power to make you, and because we think it may have a use when our
Honorable employers' interests at Bussorah come under your consideration. You may
depend on our utmost endeavours to continue on the most friendly terms with our
new Mussaleem, but we are apprehensive, from his general bad character, that we shall
find the task a difficult one. Several of our most substantial merchants are determined
on leaving Bussorah, and the strongest applications have been made to Bagdad for the
restoration of Soliman Aga."
119. On the 18th October 1769 the Agent in Council at Bussorah
communicated the following 1 intelligence to the Honorable the Court of
Directors: —
" The Turks for many months past have been engaged in a kind ot mock war with
the Montifick Arabs, whereby all communication with Bagdad, whether by the Tigris or
Euphrates, has been entirely stopped. This has been such a check upon all kind of trade
that commerce has been long unheard of. The cause of these troubles has been Shaik
Abdoolla, who is Shaik of the Montificks; his refusing to pay the Pacha the regular
tribute due on account of the lands he holds of the Turks, and for which he is now many
years in arrears. The Pacha, by the last accounts we received from Bagdad, was marched
against Shaik Abdoolla, and it was said intended visiting Bussorah ; how true, we cannot
determine. All accounts, however, agree that one Shaik Eazell had been appointed Shaik
of the Montifick Arabs in the room of Abdoolla. As avarice, however, is the pole star of
our Pacha, and Abdoolla is rich in treasure, we are inclined to believe their differences
will be shortly terminated, and that the Pacha will return again to his capital more
loaded with wealth than honors. During these disturbances sundry parties of the
Montificks have taken several of the villages about Bussorah, and for some days con
fined us within our walls. Our Mussaleem was very urgent with us for assistance, but
we would not hear of it: the assistance given against the Chaub and its destructive
consequences were sufficient warnings to us. In policy there can be nothing worse than
assisting such people as the Turks ; they have no gratitude, you can gain no advantage
by it, whether with respect to commerce or anything else, and by assisting them once
they always think themselves entitled to assistance hereafter, it would have been parti
cularly bad in the present case, because, as Shaik Abdoolla and we have ever been
upon the most friendly footing, in case it had so happened that he had taken Bussorah
(which, in our opinion, had he heartily set about it he might most easily have done)
our neutrality might have been our preservation. What would have made the capture of
Bussorah now an easy conquest is the party dissensions at present prevailing in it, and
the detestation that our Mussaleem, owing to his cowardice, tyranny, and oppressions,
is held in by all ranks and orders of people."
120. In a further despatch to the Honorable Court, dated the
15th November 1769, the Agent in Council at Bussorah reported that the