Page 231 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter XI. 206
not strictly official should bo excluded. This arrangement was accepted. In
a loiter, dated the 3rd February ISOS, Namik Pasha replied that lie bad issued
orders which would ensure only official letters being sent under cover of a frank
for Bombay, Basrah, Baghdad and ports on the Tigris. The Indian Postal
authorities approved of tho arrangement in regard to Turkish official covers
made by tho Consul-General, hut considered that places outside Turkish Arabia
should not havo been included, though the concession at the time remainder
unaltered.
151. The office of postmaster was held by a clerk of the Besidency who carried
1. Bombay. 5 Bundra Abba*. \ on the duties in addition to his own. Mails
2. Karachi. f>. Linpa nyaioa- were closed for the places named in tho
3. Guadur 7. iluHbiro. mor.
4. lIuBk.it. 8. I'utrah. margin and a regular delivery of letters
x - ........... „ made in the town of Baghdad, while those
Kormnnihoh. I »i.ab and thenco i»y for the distant, suburb of Kathimian were
10. Hnniodao. > n oun
11. Isphnhan. .• commttjfie«t£nnorVith kept in deposit till called for. Letters for
12. Tohrao.
J To0hrauti,hLuealiouat Kcrbdln, about 60 miles from Baghdad,
s.^u.d to K.r»nn.h.h... son mile, tho scene of the martyrdom of Hussein
{ JiormauHhnli to Tohrua ... 2SQ „ , T 1 vr \
Distaoco „ , grandson of the Prophet, were sent out to
4.
the care of tho Honorary Native Agent
460 there by a monthly messenger paid l rora
the Oudh Endowment Fund. In 3878
weekly communication with Kerbclla was kept up, but regular despatches had
eventually to he abandoned and loiters were sent out as opportunities occurred.
There has always been a considerable number of letters, money orders and other
articles from India lor ICerholln, as besides the yearly pilgrims who return to
their houses, numbers of Indian Mahomedans settle there to snend the remain­
der of their lives near the shrine of the saint and arc in constant correspond­
ence with their friends in India.
152. On board of tho river steamers Indian postage stamps were sold and
letters delivered at Kut-el-Ahmarah, Kut, Ali Garhi, Kurna at tlie junction of
the Tigris and the Euphrates, and at any places at which the steamers touched
for which there were letters to be delivered. Stamped letters were also received
on board the steamers for delivery at or despatch through Baghdad and Basrah,
153. Tho opening of a post office and through communication was an
immense boon to Baghdad, and tho Consul-General writing ou the subject shortly
after the service had been established, considered that “facility and security
afforded to the commercial communities would develop trade.” This prediction
was early verified by the rapid growth of business in every branch of the post
office. Jewish and Armenian merchants, however, took advantage of tho
Indian Parcel Post to import raw silk and other materials for tho manufacture
of fabrics and ornamental waist-belts lor which Baghdad and Najef enjoy some
reputation. "When this was discovered by Sir Arnold Kcm ball, Consul-General,
the question of the Ottoman Customs dues was at once taken up by him. He
considered it of the very gravest importance that the Turkish authorities should
he able to place implicit confidence in the understanding though there was no
actual stipulation, that the post office would be used as a medium for trans­
mission of the mails only. Parcels formed an integral part of an Indian mail
and tho post office was established on the principles of the Indian Post Office
Department, but the Consul-General suspended the despatch of parcels through
the post and it was not restored until arrangements had been made, with tho
approval of the Vnli, for the proper protection of the Turkish Coustoms revenues.
The parcel post was suspended for about three months and the arrangement
entered into with the Customs Department was as follows: —Parcels received
by mail wore kept in the post offico and intimation sent to addressees. On a
parcel being claimed tho owner was sent with it accompanied by a Besidency
fcavas to the Custom-house where delivery was mado with the necessary forma­
lities. Export parcels were not accepted at tho post offico for despatch unless
covered by a Custom-house pass. The mode of delivery described above con­
tinued for about fifteen years, during which period nothing appears to have
occurred to interrupt tho harmony that existed between tho Itesidoney pos
office and local Ottoman Officials.
S8-16FD