Page 59 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter II- 37
Dated Baghdad, tho Oth Octobor 1831.
From— IIajbb Eppbkdi, on tho patt of Ilia Highness An Pacha,
To—Tho Political Agont at Buesora.
After salutations.
If you wish to know how I am, T am by the favour of God most happy, and my mind easy,
all that you wish mo and muoh moro ; and affairs arc such ns you would wish, and wo do not
feel anxiety or grief, oxcept that wo arc not able to sec you, and sit with you, as we could
wish. And wo will pray God that wo may meet quickly, safely, and in good health.
Your Agent Aglia Minnscamohero, and saw tho Pacha, and me and Agha Minns received
from Ilis Highness the Pacha marts of attention and respect that exceeded his hopes, and
be wrote for him the liooyooroldi thereof, for the public functionaries of the Government of
Buesorn, fer tho protection of the Resident and all their dependants upon him, and also a
Shokka or letter from His Ilighnoss, by which it will manifestly appear how constant the
dcsiro of His Highness is, that there may he perpetual friendship between you. Moreover,
His Highness desires that you should not lose an hour in returning to Baghdad as ho greatly
desires to see you face to faco. My dear friend, by the truth of our friendship and affection I
there hns been no such Pacha come to Baghdad, nor will again. Ilia disposition is so ex­
cellent, that no pen could do it justice; and so exceedingly desirous ia be of seeing you,
that ho never lets an opportunity pass without, aslciug when will tho Balccoz Beg come. Now
I hope when those letters shall arrive, you will come to us in the vory first moment, and
when you arrive, you will see the disposition of tho Pacha towards you. Tho fruits of our
friendship.
Nejeb lJasha (1842-49).
108. Few Ottoman Viceroys have played a moro important part in the
affairs of Turkish Arabia for its good or
Sco Consultation 31st March 1849, Nos. 8-1-35.
evil than Nejab Pasha. We shall quote
Major Rawlinson’s description of the general character and particular evils of
bis administration:—

No. 77, dated Baghdad, tho 6th December 1848.
From—Majob H. C. IUwuxson, Her Bwlaumc Majosty's Consul at Baghdad,
To—His Excbm.bncy the ItionT Hon’blb Sib Stbatfobd Canning, g.c.b., His Britannio Slojos-
ty's Ambassador at Constantinople.
In continuation of my despatch No. G9 of tho 18th ultimo, I now proceed to report more
fully, both upon the general character and tho particular evils of Nejid Pacha's administra­
tion of Baghdad.
Your Excellency is no doubt tolerably acquainted from the antecedents of Neji'o Pacha's
career with the merits and demerits which distinguish him as an individual. He possesses or
at any rate has possessed, a very remarkable natural energy, and his inflexible spirit, although
too often degenerating into obstinacy, has on more occasions than one dessipated dangerous
that would have been fatal, if encountered with a less degree of firmnoss and serenity. That
thorough knowledge also must he conceded to him of the craft of Eastern Government, which
can be alone acquired by 50 years’ experience of public life. Herein however are, I think, com-
prised his full catalogue of virtues, and unfortunately there is a terrible amount of evil in the
frailties, prejudices and passions which make up tho residium of his personal character. Proud,
superstitious and corrupt, he is alone accessible to the influence of flattery of saintly hypo­
crisy or of bribes. Ilis bigotry increases with his toars and his rapacity with his wealth.
Hating equally' Christians and Shecahs, whom ho classes together as infidels and strangers,
his conduit to the two communities at Baghdad is merely in so far distinguished, as the
rclativo weight of the Persian and European Governments may bo supposed to admit a greater
or less latitude for the indulgence of his rancor. The Christians, to whom in public he invari­
ably attaches the opprobrious epithet of “ Giour,” have chiofly to complain of an indifference
to their wrongs, of a disposition to enforce against them civil disabilities which in other parts
of the Empire have either fallen into disuse or have been formally annulled, of systematized
endeavours to confirm, if not to aggravate, their social depression, while tho Persians, to whom
His Excellency commonly applies tho equally dishonorable title .of “ Rafizi," aro tho objects of
an undisguised aud uudis:criminii ting persecution. To onumcrate the multitudinous grievances
under which the latter parties suffer would bo too great a trespass upon Your Excellence’s time
and patience. Those grievances havo been catalogued for tho most part in my previous des­
patches, and they extend over every portion of tho body politic and overy question of indivi­
dual right, whether affecting religion, conscience, nationality, property, commerce or personal
security. The last refinement of severity, to which my attention has been drawn (and which
has bpeu superadded to the prohibition of all oharitallo bequests or benefactory outlay upon the
holy shrines and to a compulsory substitution of Soonec for Sheeah law iu the towns of Korbela
and Nejjcf, not only in regard to civil contracts, conveyance of property, testamontary disposi­
tions, etc., hut in such personal matters as marriage and divorce) as a formal interdict that His
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