Page 375 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

343
Thceo Yaramus from tlio want of a proper government gradually raised tbemsolvcs into
power and completely got possession of tlio place, they issued their orders and governed at
their will, and lived chiefly by plundering tho inhabitants and pilgrims : the atrocities com-
mitted by them arc well known to all who have visited Kcrbella.
Thoro were several Chiefs among them. The principal was Sayd Ibrahim Zafrani. Of
Fcrsinn-Arab origin bis father was fr«m Bacoba and married at Kcrbella an Arab woman—he
was of low birth nnd sold saffron. His son Sayd Ibrahim was for many years extremely poor,
and being of looso habits joined tho Yaramas, and brought himself into notice by killing one of
their Chiefs, and gradually raised himself into the position ho held by daring and intrigue and
distributing freely amongst his followers any plunder ho might obtain—he was considered by
all tho Chief. Meerza Saulch was tho next in power; ho is of Persian origin and must of his
followers wore Persians. Mohamed Ali Kban, a Persian from Para, had also much power, ho
was styled Boolooch, he bad one hundred and fifty followers—Persians. There wero several
other Chiefs, but they wero of minor importance. There Yaramas went about constantly armed
levying contributions and look bv force what they could not obtain by good will; frequent dis­
putes regarding their rights broko out amongst them, which often ended in bloodshed anu murder;
at times the greatest confusion reigned ; the inhabitants lived in constant dread of those men.
They got possession of lands in the Dcighbourhod, and have best houses in the town ; every
pilgrim for tho lime he resided at Kcrbella, put himreif under the protection of one of these
Chiefs and paid him by presents or otherwise to secure his protection against, tho other
Yaramas ; the inhabitants likewise found it necessary for their security to attach themselves
to one of the Chiefs. Sayd Ibrahim Safrani had the most followers and was greatly feared.
These Yaramas whose numbers I have been told did not exceed two thousand, or two thousand
five hundred, were chiefly composed of the dregs of the people, Arabs, Persians, murderers and
robbers who bad fled their country. Every criminal was sure to find protection there. Sayd
Wahab, nominal Governor, a man of influence and good family, was born at Kerbella. lie brought
forward (sic) and closely connected himself with Sayd Ibrahim, finding him a man of no talent
and groat daring, lie preteuded to tho Pashas that the Yaramas would not allow him to curry
their orders inlo execution, while on tho other band through the means of Sayd Ibrahim he sup­
ported the Yaramas, occasionally giving them money and allowing Snjd Ibrahim to assume
a sort of authority in the town ; likewise to check the influence of the Persian Party, consist­
ing of Meerza Sauleh and Mohamed Ali Ilan Boloosh of which he was afraid, he conveyed
a certain sum annually to the Pasha whilst the remainder of the revenues were plundered by
him. The most friendly intercourse was kept up with the populous tribes of Arabs outside
with whom Sayd Ibrahim had great influence, these Arabs arc in rebellion against the Sultan
aud of the Sliceah faith and willingly give their assistance when required.
It appears hardly to be credited that so small a body of men should be able to exercise
such oppression towards the inhabitants of so populous a town, three fourths of which wore
Persian or of Persian origin containing sometimes a population of eighty thousand souls, but
such was the case. The Mollnhs found it for their interest to sucoumk to the authority of the 1
Yaramas, to keep out Soonce Governors, and the Chief Priests Ilazee Sayd Itanscm Rcshty
and Sayd Ibrahim Kazvini between whom a great hatred and jealousy existed and still exists,
each striving to obtain the chief station possessed no power, although much respected by tho
inhabitants and pilgrims—each had a party of Yaramas to support his pretensions. Sayd
Ibrahim Zafrani with his powerful party attached himself to Jladzee Sayd Ransom and Meerza
Saulch supported Sayd Ibrahim Kazvini and any proposition mado by tho one party was sure to
be rejected by the other—occasionally the most violent quarrels took place and the two chief
Priests to maintain tbeirpositions connected themselves more closely with the Yaramas whoso
authority increased daily. This slate of things had gone on for more than twenty years.
Kerbella had become an independent town and its population which was mostly Persian emi­
grants, or of Persian origin considered that the Pashas were notable, or that the Sultan did
not wish to establish his authority there; occasionally the greatest horrors were committed by
these Yaramas. and the most respectable people have informed me that no towu could have
exceeded Kerbella iu debauchery aud villainy of evory sort.
The town of Kerbella is situated about four hours distance from the right bank of the
Euphrates on the confines of tire Syrian Desert south south-west of Bagdad about fifty five
miles distant, and is about 13 miles in circumference surrounded by a brick wall about
24 feet high with 29 bastions, each of which is capablo of containing one gun—it
contains threo thousand four hundred houses of a very superior description; the houses
closely crowded together approach withiu three yards of tho wall, the streets are very
narrow, tho .tops of tho houses arc surrounded by a brick paiapct and can bo fired from
without exposure, it has six gates, three of which aro very small. The tomb of Imaum Hoos-
6oin is a fine building, and stands nearly in the centre of tho towr: that of this brother Abbas in
tho South-East quarter, about two hundred aud fifty yards from tire JNujof Gale. Tho town
is surrounded by gardens which approachcloso to the walls, leaving only a small footpath. Tlio
gardens aro filled with hugo date-trees, intersected with numerous ditches, and extend to some
distance from the town, which is not perceptibleuntil you close under tho walls. Its strength
consists in its situation, but it appeared to me that a few pood troops ought to be able to take
it in a short lime. Tho bouses mostly belong to Pcrriaus who have left their country and
settled there for generations; many of the rich nren in Persia have houses and laud there, that
in time of neod they may have a safo place of refuge, or wishing in their old ago to retire to

{!
m