Page 61 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter II- 39
31 id hut Vathn appointed Vali of Baghdad, 1660.
109-A. A description of tlio schemes of Midhut Pasha, one of tho greatest
of tho Valis of Baghdad is given below.

No. 7, dated 2Gth May 1800.
From—LinoTRNAHT-Coi.ONRL C. Hbbbbbt, llor Majcstjr'e Officiating Political A gout and Coneul-
Goncral nt Baghdad,
To— JTie Kxcr.itEncv mu ltionT Honoubablb H. Elliot, Hot Britannio Majosty’a Ambassador,
Constantinople.
I have tho honour to report tho arrival, on the 30th ultimo, of His Excellency Midhut
Foehn, Governor-General of Turkish Arabia, accompanied by Shaker Beg, Lieutenant-Governor
(Mutesorif) of Baghdad, Ruef Beg, Secretary (Maaoon), Iiaindy Beg, Attache (Mudoer) for
Foreign Affairs, together with several subordinate ofliccrs of dilleront grades.
His Excellency entered the city in state at an early hour, being mot by all the principal
employes of the Government and representatives from tho Consulates oE England and France.
On tho third day after his arrival, the firman of his appointment was publicly read at the
Government House (Serai), when His Excellency addressed tho assembly, telling hi s audience
that he had como hither with an earnest desire to benefit the country and enrich tho people ;
that ho proposed to introduce many charges and reforms which, he hoped, would bo beneficial,
changes which, perhaps, they might not at first altogether approve, but which they would
appreciate when they had experienced tho advantages that would accrue to them therefrom.
He commenced his career by tho abolition of the following taxes, which are said to have
been peculiarly local, and have proved obstructive and oppressive :—
J«A—Ihtisab, or octroi duty levied on all produce brought into tho city gates for sale in
the market.
2nrf.—Kalibiyeb, a tax on the native craft on the rivers.
3rd.—IChums Hatch, a tax of 20 per cent, on fuel brought to the city on rafts and in
boats.
4th.—Itoosbukfir, tho tax on irrigation wheels of the Arab cultivators. In lieu of these
taxes, he has established ono of 10 per cent, on the produce of gardens and
fields.
Ilis Excellency is organizing several new Councils (Mcjlises), of which the members are
to be paid, instead of, as heretofore, working gratuitously, with the opportunity of making
what they could a source of corruption aud trouble.
Ho has introduced the Wilayct system, and I have the honour to forward a copy (with
tTanslatiou) of a communication which has boon addressed to the Foreign Consulates on this
subject.
His Excellency has deputed an officer, Serri EfTendi, to re-open an old canal called
“Kenanich" from the Euphrates into the “ Scglawicli ” canal, which falls into the Tigris,
with the view to forming a channel of communication between the two great rivers, to be
conducted by raoaus of small steam vcssole which it is proposed to bring from Europe for the
service.
IIo has also deputed a steamer to proceed up the Euphrates to endeavour to arrange for
the ultimato opening of the navigation of that river, with which object ho proposes to remake
the embankmeuts of the Jczair territory, and eo confine the water of tho river to its own bed,
and prevent the inundations which yoarly immerse a largo tract of country to the south, and
roach even to the town of Bus60rah.
These inundations convert the whole of that country into a tract of unhealthy and
unproductive marsh, while the loss of the water from the bed of the river renders tho latter
unnavigablc.
Ilis Excolloncy’s mind seems earnestly bent on various schemes for the improvement of
the oountry.
He at once recognizes the two great wants, vis., security of property and means of
communication with tho world (from whioh the country is at prosent excluded), and of the
transport of produce.
He contemplates the construction of a railway hence to Kerbella as a step in this direction
in connection with the navigation of tho Euphrates, the importation of several steamers for river
and sea navigation, so as to connect tho province with Suez, of machinery for cleaning the
river channels, and also for various manufactures, as well as for irrigation.
I waited on His Excollcncy accompanied by officers attached to this Political Agency and
Consulate-Genoral, and the membors of tho British community on the day after his arrival
and have since paid o private visit.