"دليل الجزيرة العربية المجلد I" [‎٣‎٩‎٤] (١٠٥٠/٤١٣)

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BASRAH
The date trade supplies the only local export of any importance, most of the business
done being in the way of agency or forwarding. The Euphrates valley as far as Hilla
probably draws directly on Basrah for its imported commodities, but this is perhaps
the limit of the importance of Basrah as a pivot of internal trade. The key to Baghdad
trade is to be found in the ocean trade prevailing at Basrah and the river freights
between Basra and Baghdad.
British interests in Basrah date from the establishm9nt of the English Factory by the
East India Company more than 150 years ago. In 1913 the number of steam
vessels of ali nationalities that entered and cleared the port of Basra was 195 with
a net tonnage of 327,913, and of these 163 were British^ having a net tonnage of
254,714. The number of sailing vessels was 250 (19,026 tons) of which 137 were
British (11,595 tons»)
Despite its commercial importance the Turkish Government had not constructed
wharves or pontoons at Basra, leaving ships to load and unload by means of lighters.
The following lines of ocean steamers called regularly at Basra t—-
The British India Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.
The Ellerman and Bucknall Steamship Co., Ltd k
The Strick Liner
Messrs. Marcus Samuel and Co.
Messrs. Andrew Weir & Co. (chartered steamers).
The Arab Steamers, Ltd.
The Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.
Haji Sultan 'Ali Shustari Line.
The Hamburg America Line.
The Russian Steamship Navigation Co.
Numerous steamers were chartered annually for the export of dates at harvests.
During the years preceding the present war the following lines of river steamers navi
gated the Shatt-al-Arab and Tigris up to Baghdad
The Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company (Messrs. Lynch Bros.).
The Idarah Nahriyah, a Turkish company.
These companies were amalgamated in 1914 under the name " Mackay, Lynch & Co. v
Trade on the Tigris was largely carried on in sailing vessels {maheilehs).
The European firms with offices at Basra are :—
Messrs. Lynch Bros. (Merchants : carrying trade on the Tigris and Karun).
Messrs. Grey, Mackenzie & Co. (Merchants : importers and exporters : agents for
the British India Steam Navigation Co., and Ellerman & Bucknall Steamship
Lines).
Messrs. Strick, Scott &Co. (Merchants: importers and exporters, shipowners, agents
for the Anglo Persian Oil Company).
Messrs. MacAndrew, Forbes & Co. (American firm: exporters of liquorice).
Basra Trading Company (British firm : exporters of dates and grain).
Messrs. Wonckhaus & Co. (German firm : agents for Hamburg America Line).
Russian Steamship and Trading Company, of edessa, 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 popultion 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
Mohammadans are mostly Sunnis. Some of the wealthiest merchants are Jews.
Administration and Aothorities. —Basra town was the head-quarters of the Turkish
Wildyat of the same name, and the seat of a Wali. It also formed a Ndhiyah in the Basra
Qadha, The latter area was under the direct charge of the Vali. The city was nomi
nally under a powerless and inefficient municipal council. The Ddirat-as-Sanlyak
had offices here, including a Mamun and subordinate staff, who control the Shatt-el-
'Arab properties. There was a local Saniyeh committee. The principal offices of the
navigation branch of this department were established here under a Director subordinate
to the central committee in Baghdad. There was a Mudir of customs under the