"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٨‎٩] (٥٤٢/٤٠٠)

BASRA
889
Messrs. MacAndrew, Forbes & Co. (American firm ; exporters of
liquorice). „ , . n
Basra Trading Company (British firm; exporters of dates and
grain).
Messrs. Wonckhaus & Co. (German firm ; agents tor liamburg-
Amerika Line).
Eussian Steamship and Trading Company, of Odessa, had an
agency here. £
Messrs. Asfar & Co. are an important native Christian firm.
There is a branch of the Imperial Ottoman Bank at Basra.
Inhabitants. —The population is mainly composed of sedentary
Arabs. There are also several thousand Persians, a considerable
Jewish settlement, and a small colony of resident Indians. Negroes
of servile origin are fairly numerous. In 1913 there was a floating
population of the labouring class which numbered some 10,000
persons, variously engaged in the grain-trade of the port.
The Sunni and Shiah sects are said to be about equally balanced
in numbers. The few Indian Mohammedans are mostly Sunnis.
Some of the wealthiest merchants are Jews.
Administration and Authorities. —Basra town was the head-quarters
of the Turkish Vilayet of the same name, and the seat of a Vali. It
also formed a Nahiye in the Basra The latter area was under
the direct charge of the Vali. The city was nominally under a
powerless and inefficient municipal council. The Da'irat
had offices here, including a Mamur and subordinate staff, who
control the Shatt el-'Arab properties. There was a local Sanlyeh
committee. The principal offices of the navigation branchy of this
department were established here under a director subordinate to
the central committee in Baghdad. There was a Mudir of customs
under the Director-General of Customs at Baghdad. Shipping and
river conservancy were in the hands of a harbour-master.
The Turkish garrison consisted normally of two battalions of
infantry, with some artillery and a detachment of engineers. A
naval commodore was stationed here in command of two gun
boats.
One of the most important personages in Basra before the war was
the unscrupulous Seyyid Talib Bey who had great
influence among the Arabs of the town. He is said to have terrorized
Basra with a band of armed men.
In 1914 there were at Basra British, French, Russian, American,
Dutch, Persian, and German consuls.
History. —Old Basra, the ruins of which lie about 8 m. SW. by W.
of the modern town, and extend for about 3 m. in the same direction