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The 8-ttloment of the question of Kerbella will hereafter bo one of great difficulty, on it
will greatly depond the tranquillity of this Pachalic situated as it is in the centre of an immense
Sheeah population. In conversing with the inhabitant all hough they pretended to rejoice at
the expulsion of the Yura mas, I eouhl plainly perceive that they felt great dislike to submit to
the Government, especially tho Persians, who almost considered the town as belonging to them­
selves, tlvy complain of the great precipitation shown by the I’aclm, that if he had given more
time everything would have been arranged without bloodshed, according to his wishes, whilst
the Pacha feels ns.-ured they only wanted to gain time to collect a greater force to aitaclc him
and accuses tho Persians of assisting the rebels against him, that be gave them notice of his
intentions 30 days before the place was invested. It is to bo regretted that the Persian Consul
did not shew more vigour, his prcsoncc oven on the day of the assault might have been of tbo
greatest use—many Persians do not hesitate to say that be was afraid to go to Kerbella, others
give ns a reason for their not leaving that whilst their Consul remained at Baghdad there could
he no danger.
His Excellency Namik Pasha to whom I have translated most of my report assures me
that tho charge mado against the soldiers of setting fire t«» the dead and dying is uutruc. The
Persians most positively asserted it tome, but the soldiers denv the charge, those bodies that
were burnt were ignited by the wadding From the muskets. The most positive orders were
issued by His Exccllenoy Negib Pasha to the Seraskicr which were read in Camp to all ihe
officers assembled that if the assault took place they should avoid as much as possible the shed­
ding of blood, to be merciful and spare the innocoot.
A great many of the Chiefs of Yaramas, Seid Ibrahim Zuffianee, Soid Wahab and others
havo come in and given thcmselvc3 up to tho Pasha who has pardoned them at my request,
also some of tho Chiefs of Kerbella, who were present nt the siege have airived, I havo ques­
tioned them in private at my own house, and their report of the late affair nearly corresponds
with what I have stated to Your Kxccllency. They almost positively declare that after the
6icge commenced it was common onus®, that every body capable of bearing arms fought,
whether Arab or Persian. They deny that they prevented the Persians from leaving the town,
that feur of tho gates were left open, that, many left during the siege, and caravans went,
during that time to Nujif, that the guns were served by Persians who volunteered, many of
those who remained were in the piy of the Chiefs of KorWIla as cultivators, and that almost
every respectable Persian had left the town before the siege began. They all acknowledge
that His Excellency Negib Pasha made them several offers of pardon both before and after the
siege began (this also the Persians who were in Kerbella havo allowed to me) but they refused,
thinking that he never would take the place, and the letters he sent, being addressed to Ilajce
Seid Ranscin, the Chief Priest, Metrza Saulch Yaramas and his party opposed any attempts to
makepeace. At the request of His Excellency Namik Pasha I afterwards attended at lvs
house when these men were examined, they spoke very freely, and confirmed many things I
had heard before.
I do not think from what the Persians have told me that after operations were commenced
they were allowed to leave the town and 1 believe they were much oppressed by the Yeramas.
A Persian explained the case to me as follows :—“That those who bad property th**re did n<-t
like to leave, as in ease the Pasha did not succeed in his attack, their property would have been
confiscated by the Yeramas, and they would not have been allowed to return, bo they considered
it better t-> remain, and always consoled themselves that things would end as in the time of
former Pashap, some took arms to prevent the Yeramas making them work and demanding
money from them—and it was the common talk amongst tho people seeing the siege lasted so
long that the Pasha With such a small force would n*ver be able fc> take tho place. The in­
habitants of Kerbelia also, who declared to me they did mt assist since their names havo been
given up, now declare that all capable of bearing arms fought, whether Arab or Persian.
I have inquired into the report that some Persians were sent to Baghdad and killed by the
Pachas orders—the men killed whether Persians or Ar.ibs were Yeramas, and actually taken
during hostilities but I have been told Irora good authority that no Persians were amongst
them.
In sending so small a force to Kerbella, it appears to me that His Excellency Negib
Pasha placed his Government in a very dangprous position aud if the siege bad la>tcd two days
longer—I doubt much if he would have succeeded and in ease of a reverse the whole force and
even the Pasha himsolf at Mossnib would have paved themselves with difficulty. I must
candidly confess from what I have learned that His Excellency does not appear to havo ex­
hibited during the siege any of those sanguinary feelings which have been attributed to him.
He is quick in temper but his word as far as 1 have seen is to be depended on, aud I havo not
fouad that be has thrown any obstacles in my way of gaining information.
I have endeavoured in obedience to Your Excellency^ instructions to lay boforo Your
Excellency a plain statement of affairs from tho commencement as nearly as thoy occurred,
which I h»ve compiled from different accounts mostly furnished me by Persians and the in­
habitants of Kerbella. I have experienced the greatest diiliculby and labour from the very
contradictory evidence offered, and checking the exaggeration of the Persians under their
excited feelings. Since my ariival at Baghdad I havo used every endeavour to collect infor­
mation (my house has been constantly filled with all classes of Persians) to enable Your
Excellency to form on opinion of the affair a* it really took place.