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Chapter X. 173
archives of the British Embassy ; tho name of the Commandant is given this
original, but it was illegible. Evidently tho namo was of Captain Lynch, who
had been nppionted Commandant of tho steamers on the river. Conceivably
tho Turkish authorities base on this tact their assertion that the concession to
the Euphrates and Tigris Company rests on an old firman granted to Messrs.
Lynch & Co. The whole arrangements of IS31 and then that of 1837 were
concerns respectively of tho British Homo Government and the East India
Company (which, be it noted, had now ceased to he a commercial body), having
for their purpose a survey of the rivers and the country, and taking measures
for facilitating commerce rather than carrying on commerce. The steamers
wero armed boats, not trade vessols. The firmans of 183 L and 1811, were ac­
cordingly grants made to the British Government, and not to private
individuals.
28. It must further be noted that the expedition of Colonel Chesney, and
then that of Captain Lynch, were for tho survey of both tho Tigris and Euph­
rates rivers, while tho firmans refer only to the Euphrates. This might be ac­
counted for by the fact that the Tigris had already been for many years used for
navigation purposes by the East India Company’s boats (built iu Tukish Arabia)
and tacitly recognized both by tho Turks and Arabs as a commercial waterway
to foreigners, while the Euphrates on account of the constant disturbances of
the Arab tribes had long been practically closed to navigation and had yet to
recover its ancient position as the great commercial artery between Syria and
the Persian Gulf. And the main objective of the British enterprises of 1831
and 1837 was, it must not be forgotten, the Euphrates' rather than the Tigris.
Yet the British steamers ascended up the Tigris several times and surveyed that
river as well as the Euphrates without any objection from the Turks. For an
account of the Surveys see chapter XII (i) post.
29. In May-August 18 *2, tho three steamers, Euphrates, Nimrod and
Assyria wero under tho orders of tho Government of India withdrawn for
sorvice on the Indus.
30. The remaining steamer the Nilocris on continued Euphrates and Tigris
rivers. Lieutenant Eelix Jones, who succeed Captain Lynch in 1813, com­
manded the Nilocris, until 1816, when it was taken to Bombay for repairs.
31. In 1811 the Government of India sanctioned an allowance of Rs. 100
per mensem for payment as presents to Arab Sheikhs whose friendship he had
to cultivate during his survey work, and for other incidental purposos connect­
ed with the survey and visit to tho Sheikhs (Government of India letter No.
276, dated 8th February 1811, to the Bombay Government).
(V). The question as to the utility of maintaining an armed steamer
iNilocris) on the Tigris—1845.
32. At this time the question was raised by the Government of India as to
the utility of maintaining an armed steam
Bombay Political Department Vol. 1G45 of 1843.
vessel on tho Mesopotamian rivers. Wo
have on our records an important report of Sir H. Rawlinson on the point (No.
10, dated the 22nd February 18-15), which bears quotation :—
<l It is impossible, it appears to me, to reduce this question to a mere pecuniary calcula­
tion, for, allhough the outlay upon the one side be direct and tangible, yet the return which that
outlay brings is, for the most pari, incidental and a matter of opinions rather than of proof.
The only immediate advantage that wo desire from tlie presence of a steamer on tho rivers of
Mesopotamia refer to tho protection of our merchants and to the security and extension which
are thereby given to our commerce, within the last fow years three independent British houses
of agency have been established at Baghdad, and other parties encouraged by tho prosperous
condition of tho trade are about to enter on the same field of enterprise. The insecurity of
the rivers and the rapacity of the Arabs who live ou tho banks presented in former times
serious obstacles to the intr'duction of our manufactures intp the Pashaliq of Baghdad, hut
those ovils havo now almost disappeared and it is matter of notoriety that we owe the change
to our exhibition of strength upon the Tigris ar.d Euphrates and to tho friendly relations
which wo have established with the Montctik, tho Beni Lara, the Zobeidand the other great
Arab tribes upon the banka, rather Ilian to any increased olliciwncy on tho part of the Turkish
Government or to any real improvement in tho character of the Arabs.
“ Whilst a single steamer continues to ply upon tho rivor, the Arabs are reminded of our
strength, and thoy respect not only British boats, but thnso also of our Turkish allies, but wero
that steamer to bo withdrawn, they would assuredly reverb to their old habits of plunder ; and
the river trade would be outircly at their mercy.
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