Page 206 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

180 Part III.

clos9 of natives engaged in the intonml trade, but they must be content to navigate like other
vessels of thocountiy. Though it is not impossible th *t such vessels ns have hitherto abusive­
ly enjoyed the privilege of carrying their national colors may bn tacitly allowed through
favour to continue the samo practice, it would not, I conceive, be proper for any British
authority to support a claim which, ho the state of the Turkish law what it will, is manifestly
at variunco with the enactments of our own legislature.
The prospects which are opening to our trade in tho eastern part of this empire, and the
importance which may justly be attached to tho freo navigation of its great rivcr6 wherever
our vessels can find a sufficient depth of water for that purposo, have made me anxious to
placo our vory natural, though somewhat doubtful, claims upon a sound footing sanctioned by
the acknowledgment of tho Porte itself. This object could only he gained by frankly admit­
ting such of its protonsions as wc could not in fnirness or consistency dispute."
45. When the Nitocris as already mentioned, was sent to Bombay for repairs,
it was rumoured that she had been finally
■ Cone. 2Sth March 1815, No. 113.
Note.—Thia moraorial also show* that tho Vizirial withdrawn from the rivers. This caused
ioitoroM84C, whioh hnJthon just i»«uoj was con- much unoasiness to the merchants at
r;,'Sdu &,?£" Baghdad, who forwarded a memorial* in
which they expressed as their opinion that
the security of trade on tho Tigris was entirely due to tho presence of an armed
vessel on the rivers, as the Turkish authorities, even if they wore willing to exert
themselves, which was far from being the case, could not possibly afford pro­
tection against attacks by the numerous Arab tribes oooupying both banks of
tho river. The Hcsident at Baghdad, Sir H. Bawlinsou, fully endorsed this
view, and was besides of opinion that the presence of an armed vessel was very
necessary for tho maintenance of British inllueuco in Turkish Arabia.

The Nitocris returned to Baghdad in 1847, with Captain Felix Jones on
board, who carried a complimentary letter from the Governor General to Najib
Pasha Vali of Baghdad thanking him for his attention and assistance to the
Commander of tho Nitocris. Her presence was particularly useful in 1819,
when, owing to hostilities among the Arab tribes, all native navigation was
stopped, while British-owned boats passed freely up and down the Tigris on
account of tho presence of the steamer.f
t Coni. 27th Norombor 1849, No. 19.
46. In this letter No. 133, dated 16th October 1850, Lieutenant A. B.
Kemball reported the unserviceable con­
Bombay, Political Volumo 2544 of 1850. dition of the Nitocris, and pressed for its
replacement by a new vessel. He urged tho samo considerations as adduced by
Sir H. liawlinson in the correspondence of 1845-46 for maintaining an armed
vessel on the Tigris.
47. It was at first decided to despatch one of the steamers of the Indus to
relieve the Nitocris, and after refitting the latter to send it to the Indus. Then
an old vessel of the Indian Navy, the Cornett J was found to be more suitable for
the navigation of the Tigris, and after being repaired, was despatched to Basrah
in 1852 to take the place of the Nitocris.
48. The Comett performed the same duty as formerly, the Nitocris carrying
the mails, keeping up relations with the Arab tribes in surveying and protect­
ing British trade.
49. Stress was laid on the duties imposed upon’Captain Felix Jones in the
letter of the Bombay Government to the
Bombay Political Volomo 191 of 1852.
Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Navy,
No. 122, dated 16th December 1862
11 It must not be overlooked that tho position of Commander Jones in Mesopotamia is
peculiar, and his duties are various : in the first place he has to conduct the Naval duties of tho
steamer Conet as her Commander; in the second place ho bas to maintain tho British re­
lations with many tribes and chiefs in subordination to the directions of t he Political Agcnt in
Turkish Arabia and in thp third place he ha9 beeo for several years cairying on extensive
surveys, and observations which are likely to prove of great valuo to geographical and physical
science."
1 Tho Count appear* to h»ro boon built for tbo Indian Nary in 1838—aoo Mr . Ucrtslot’a Momo., datod lit JviT
1874 to 8ocrot, Ootobor 1874, No*. 62—63, iNo. 65).