Page 333 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

SOI
CHAPTER XIX.
Endowment of an Indian Nawab for tho ropair and extension of tbo Hussainia
Canal.
101-A. There arc two canals in tho Kcrbclla Ivaimakamlik, which owe
their existence to a great extent, if not wholly, to the benefactions of Indiana.
One is the Ilindia canal connecting the Euphrates with the sea of Najaf, recon­
structed by an Indian Shiah Jady, lienee called lfindia. The other is t he Hus­
sainia Canal connecting the Euphrates with tho Kcrbclla town, which was
vepaired and extended at the cost of an Indian Nawab of Sind. The origin and
history of the endowment made for tin's purpose is interesting, showing, as
it docs, how much interest the British authorities took in the affair anil as
instance of how much Indian wealth has been invested in Turkish Arabia, in
useful works, besides in mere religious or charitable bequests, rendering our
relationship with Turkish Arabia especially peculiar. No apology is tbereforo
needed for going into some details of the origin of the endowment.
101-B. In a letter received on the 11th March 1S36, by Sir Robert
Grant, Governor of Bombay, from Dis Highness Mir Nassir Khan of Sind,
lie stated that two of his Agents, named Svad Alehdi Shah and Haji Saleh, were
proceeding to Kcrbclla via Bombay, for the purpose of repairing a canal at that
place. With the view of accomplishing this object His Highness Mir Nassir
Khan forwarded to Aga Mahomed Rahim Shiraji, a Persian Merchant in
Bombay, bills of exchange to the amount of 20,000 Company’s rupees and request­
ed that the money when recovered might bo deposited with Colonel Taylor,
Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, in order that that Officer might make the
necessary advances from timo to timo to the two persons abovo named. This
sum having been subsequently deposited in the Hon’ble Company’s Treasury at
Bombay by Aga Mahomed ltaliim Sheraji, the Political Agent in Turkish
Arabia, was, on the Sth July 1S37, directed to draw thereon for the same, for the
purpose above mentioned.
I01-C. In a letter, dated 20lh April 1S3S, Sir Henry Pottinger, Gov­
ernor General’s Agent for the affairs of Sind, stated that Ilis Highness
Mir Nassir Khan had received communications from the Political Agent in
Turkish Arabia, the Pasha of Baghdad and bis own people at that place, to tho
offect that the Canal at Kerbolla would cost one lac of rupees and that llis
Highness accordingly proposed sending Its. 50,000, in addition to the sum of
Its. 20,000 which ’nis Highness had already remitted to Bombay for this
purpose. With his letter, dated the 22nd Juno 183S, Sir Henry Pottinger
forwarded to Government thirty-six Hundis aggregating Rs. 50,000 which
amount was subsequently recovered by the Sub-Treasurer and deposited in
tbo Hon’blc Company’s Treasury at Bombay for the purpose of being appro­
priated towards the prosecution of the ropair of the canal at Kcrbclla.
101-D. On tho 5th March 1839, Sir Henry Pottingor reported to Gov­
ernment that His Highness Mir Nassir Khan had applied to him for credit
on tho Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, to the extent of 50,000 Company’s
rupees which his Agents stated would be required in addition to the 20,000 and
50,000 rupees already remitted by His Highness to complete the repair of tho
canal. Sir nenry Pottinger at tho same time slated that tho money would be
repaid by Ilis Highness into tho Treasury of tho Rcsidont in Sind, at the rate
of exohange he had established for local currencies.
101-E. Accordingly on tho loth April 1S39, orders were issued by Gov­
ernment to the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia to make the necessary advanco
of the additional sum of 50,000 rupees abovo alluded to, towards tho prosecu­
tion of the repairs of the canals.
101-E. Undor dato tho 2Sth January 1810, Sir Honry Pottingor brought
to the notice of Government that tho sum of Rs. 50,0C0 abovo referred to
had not up to tbo 12th of that month bcon paid into the non’bio Company’s
Treasury at Hyderabad. Lieutenant-Colonel Outram, who subsequently assumed
chargo of tho Political Agoucy in Lower Sind, submitted to Government on
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