Page 60 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

38 Part I.
Excollcncy haslnfoly placed upon those traditional mourning ceremonies whioh, within certain
bounds, the Persians have always hitherto been pormiUcd to exhibit at the present season,'in
moraory of their martyrted Imams. This interdiot is regarded as almost equivalen to prescrip­
tion of tho Shceali faith, and has called forth tho most violent rosentmeut generally amongst
the Persian population.
Undoubtedly howevor of all tho offonocs of whioh Nojib Pasha is justly chargeable, the
gravest, inasmuch ns they compromise the character of the Sultan's Government, nlicnato tho
nfleotions of His Majesty's subjects and tluoaten to convert into a desert ono of the finest
provinces of the Umpire, nro tho intolerable rigor of his financial administration, and tho
rcoklcss greediness and venality with which Ilis Excellency's officers throughout tho Pashnlio
pursue tho ono solo object of raising money. I have in vain endeavoured to obtain materials
for drawing up a return of what may be considered unjust and oppressive tuxos Such a task
indeed is quite impracticable, for tho rates and amounts are daily fluctuating according as tho
Collectors discover a more lucrative machinery of taxation, and any return moreover, howover
au tho otic and elaborate, would convoy but a very imperfect idea of tho real prossuro upon tho
laboring classes and the consumers, as tho realization of evory item of revenue is in the hands
of contractors, who are permitted to put in practico all conceivablo moans of oxtoition, even to
tho inflection of personal torture, provided, they fulfil their pecuniary obligat ions to the Gov­
ernment. The trade in corn since the last harvest has been a monopoly in the hands of tho
Government and the price to the consumer accordingly has been more than double that which
was warranted by tho abundant resources of the country. On amnia1, food and fruit and vege­
tables, the duties under a variety of denominations amount to an average of about 50 per cent.
ad valorem, nnd dates, which to tho Arab population constitute the real nccossary of life, are
hardly less extravagantly taxed. All the internal trades to which the wants of tho community
give extension or importance, are roserved as monopolies, and farmed out to bo highest bidder,
among those monopolies I may instance tho manufacture of soap, of spirits and of leather, the
dyeing and painting of cloths, tho cleaning of cotton, the storing nnd weighing of rice and
grain, porterage, brokerage, etc. Tho transit duties also are enormous on hides, wool, sheep skins,
gall nut, etc., the charges amount sometimes to 80 per cent, ad valorem before the goods reach
the gates of Baghdad, and a further duty of 12 por cent, is levied ou entrance into the town.
New taxes too are being constantly added. Stamps are required for all public papers, whether
bonds, acquaintances, agreements or oven petitions. Tho passport fees press heavily on the
poorer classes and the exorbitant charges on conveyance of property, on the realization of money,
on tho mere passing of contracts, deter tho rich from making any use of their capital. According
to tho data which I have collected from various quarters and which furnish at any rate the
means of approximately estimating tho result of Nejib Pasha’s financial operations during the
last year, 1 find that Ilis Excollenoy who was granted a farm of tho Baghdad Pashalic at the
assumed gross annual valuation of 60,000 purses [80(),000£] has raised by ostensible means
alone, above 120,000 purses [G00,i*00£] and at tho most moderate calculation for his extra­
ordinary profits, those I mean which have accrued from his grain monopoly from his Kaziehs
on tho Arabs, from confiscations, fines, presents and above all from direct bribes, I should be
disposed to assess the entire proceeds of his Government at not less than one million sterling
and when Your Excellency considers that during the interval in question no single fresh
source of legitimate revenue has been opened, that there has been no territorial acquisition;
no barren lauds reclaimed from tho desert; no increased trade, or improved cultivation; no dis­
covery of metallic treasure ; no invention in manufactures or extension of produce ; but that on
the contrary every branch of agriculture, commerce, enterprise and industry has very essential­
ly declined, you will understand that this immense sum, so entirely disproportioned to tho
present capabilities of tho province, could not have been raised without entailing a terrible
amount of individual suffering, and without calling forth a general execution of the ruling
power which sanctions, if it does not encourage, such grinding tyranny.
Go the particular subject of Nejib Pasha’s relations to tho British Consulate nt Baghdad,
I do not find it necessary to enter at any length. Your Excelloncy must be aware from my
last six months’ series of despatches, of the general spirit by which the Pasha is actuated.
His hostility must be ascribed in its origin to his innate hatred of all Europeans, while it was
no doubt called into more open activity, by finding that British privileges interfered with bis
pecuniary gains and that my assertion of those privileges impeded the exercise of what ho
would fain have considered an irresponsible power. Tardily awakening to a sense of the
impolicy of having incurred so formidable a danger as might arise out of tho exertion of Your
Excellency’s influence against him at the Porte, he is far from exhibiting at present the same
disposition to invade our rights and to forget that which may he duo to our honor and our
interests, which he displayed during his fornjer happy state of confidence in tho complete
immunity of his contract—hut at the same time there is nothing like cordiality, or even con­
ciliation in his demeanour. He has been frightened into a truco, which is only broken by an
occasional 6ortie, but bo is by no means inclined to lay aside his arms and I oan only preserve
the position of comparative security in which I have been placed through Your Excellency s
valuable support, by constant alertness and by showing that I am prepared to repol attack in
whatever quarter it may bo offered.
Namilc Pasha (1862’68).
109. As to tho policy followed by Namik Pasha towards tbe Arabs see
paragraphs , Chapter III.