Page 67 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter III. 45
between Hi 11 ah and Samava. With an enemy before its walls, the want of forage would
provont the possibility of bringing any number of cattle into town, and thoso Hocks which did
not fall into tho anomies hands, the Arabs assuredly drive to the places of security in the
desert. Tho plaguo has, my Lord, at tho moment I am addressing Your Excellency, carried
off near 2,000 souls; wc hope the approaching heat will check its present progress, but we
know to a certainty that its ravage next autumn and spring will be dreadful.
“Tho Pacha probably at the beginning of a blockade might mount about 2,000 horse with­
in tho town. Tho Janissaries, undiciplined and urtruly, who probably, when distressed by tho
inconveniences of a siege, would turn like a wounded elephant on their own party, may amount
to between 6,000 and 7,000 : theso with five hundred ragamuffins under tho names of Barata-
tios, Tuflinguos, &c., compose.
u In respect to Bussorah, Your Excellency no doubt has received from the Resident there
more correct and detailed accounts of its present situation than I am able to give; but my
own opinion is that it is as weak, defenceless, and hazardous a one as can well be imagined,
besides which that unfortunate city can hardly hope to escape next year the visitation wo aro
now suffering of the plague.
" Tho cities of Mcrden and Kcrkook, which aro dependencies on this Government, como
80 little within the prospect of this paper that is scarcely worth mentioning them, but tho
town of Hillah on the Euphrates is without walls, without other means of defoncc. I have
not a doubt left on my mind if things arc left to go on in their present train, but the Wahabee,
during tho course of the summer, will make himself master of it. The moment that event
take place, Baghdad will begin to feel straitened for provisions, and the Carnd Arabs, who from
being Shyahs, might naturally bo expected to surpass every othor t ribe of dependent Arabs in
their willingness and steadiness to cncouutcr the Wahabee, will have no other alternative
than submission to them or cktcrmination. I fear Yonr Excellency will think I err if I toll
you the Government hare is so besotted ns not to perceivo the importance of the port of Killah,
but on my honor, my Lord, this is tho case.
*' The principal military assistance, which in case of need the Pacha can make u-e of, is
drawn from Coordistan, the greatest part of which country is now under the Government of
Baghdad. That part of it which forms a part of the Turkish Empire is divided into Pachalics,
Sava a:ks and other species of feudatory possessions. The policy by which tho Pacha of
Baghdad has hitherto prescribed bis authority there is that of alternately elevating and depos­
ing its Chiefs. From time immemorial there have always been two families, or two branches
of the same family, with equal pretensions to each Pachalick or Sangiaclc, and consequently
one may say there is a Pacha or Sungeah Resident, and another expectant, who always resides
until this Government have occasion for him at Baghdad. Discontents and jealousies have
manifested themselves to a considerable) oxtentamongst the Chiefs of Coordistan, and although
tho Pacha since his departure from Baghdad has brought several of them to his camp, it is a well
known fact that these persons measure their tribute and obedience according to the strength of
the nrm which enforces it.
“ The principal tribes of Arabs dependent of this Government, and inhabiting the eastern
banks of the Tigris are the Jiciclarn and Sharmer. The deposed Sheikh of the former has
within theso few days attacked the Sheikh lately appointed by the Pacha, and the country from
Code to Gissan, from Gissan to the environs of Haviza, is in an actual state of confusion.
The Shumcr Arabs have been on many occasions so cruelly treated by this Government that
there can bo no doubt of their joining the Wahabee whenever an opportunity shall offer.
“ On the Euphrates and between the Euphrates and Tigris to tho southward of Baghdad,
the principal tribes arc the Casach, tho Montificfo, and the My(lan. The Casact Arabs possess
but little territory on tho western bank of tho Euphrates. The tribe is numerous, the men
composing it are brave and warlike. The country extends to the southward as far as Samavat
and abounds in grain, herds, and flocks. They are Shyiah, aud when the Persians under
Sadoh Khan attacked Bussorah, these Arabs joined him and were the principal means of hia
success. The injuries and extortion they have lately suffered from the Baghdad Government
will at all events make them cool in its defence, and if the Waliabees will receive their submis­
sion they will probably be eager to rid themselves of Turkish tyranny. The Montifick Arabs
possess the country nearly from Tamaval to the walls of Bussorah, and have hitherto been the
bulwark of this Government against tho Wahabces ; it is most interesting therefore to
know what effect the Waliabees’ late increase of wealth, power, and reputation, will produce on
this tribe. The Government here lias not certainly now the means of rendering them any
effectual assistance; they apparently are much too weak to defy the threats of the Wahabee, and
being so are probably too wise to decline his invitations to submission and proselytism should this
happen. Yotir Excellency from that moment must look on Bussorah as lost to the Turks. I
cannot conclude this short and imperfect account of the Arabs under tho Pacha’s Government
without repeating his own emphatical words, ‘enflnitil faut pas compter ne sur los Tribe
Arabcs, qui out toules les yex Bur les vehabes’ which is verified since tho affair of Meshed
Hossein, by two of the neighbouring small tribes, embraced their doctrines and received
their protection.
The only exterior relations of consequence and worth notioing, which the Government of
Baghdad has, aro with Persia and the Waliabees. From the time the present royal, family came to
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