Page 69 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter III. 47
object of averting war between Turkey and Persia on account of tho tribal
warfare on the undefined frontier between tho two countries. The East India
Company had also in view also purpose of establishing friendly relations with
tl\o tribes on the Mesopotamian rivers as well as tho Turkish authorities in order
to protect our commercial interests in tho country (sco paras. 17 et seq, page
and para. 20, pago .)
131. It happens lliu9 that our Political Officers in those days took a
lively interest in tho tribal affairs, and thoir despatches fill several bulky
volumes in our records. Wo have described above tlio state of the Arab
tribes on the arrival of Major Eawlinson (paragraph ). There reigned
s. c., ssth July 18)9. Nos. 23-29. ' comparative place on the banks o£
25th Aue».t mo, Koa. 25-20. the Tigris and Euphrates until the year
27th October i8«, No*. 2-ii. 1849, when, the flames of rebollion burst,
but almost over the whole province. The events are well described in the
following despatches of Major Rawliuson:—
No. 14, dated Baghdad, tho 25th April 18-19.
From—Muon II. C. IUwlihsoh, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Baghdad,
To—Ilia Excbllknct toe Right IIo.n'iilk Sin Stiutfoud Cuinixo, q.c.d., Her Britannio Majes­
ty's Ambassador at Constantinople.
The domestic troubles which havo been long threatening tho Baghdad Pasbaic, aro now
assuming a form, which renders it incumbent on
S. C., 28th July 1819, Nos. 28-29.
me, to bring them ollicially beforo your Excel-
lency’6 notice.
In Northern Kurdistan, the mountaineers have risen pretty generally against tho Turkish
power. A confederacy is believed to have been formed between tho Tribes of Itowanduz. Khus,
Hnan, Balik, Alcoo, aod Bilhass, and although as yet, direct collision has only occurred in two
points, at Khushuan and Itowanduz; it seems extremely probable that another regular cam­
paign will have to bo undertaken, before tho mountaineers cau be compelled again to submit to
the Turkish Zakir-Itcshid Pasha, tho Kahya of Baghdad, is in the meantime beiog scut off
express, to try and conciliate the Tribos, by remitting those Novel and excessive imposts ; which
have been introduced by the Turkish farmers of the districts, and which are understood to have
thrown the mountains into revolt: and a military force will follow, as soon as the troops cau be
equipped for tho field.
In another quarter, tho Ben; Lam, after in vain protesting at being sold by Nejib Pasha,
to tho rival tribe of Muntifik have taken tho field in formidable numbers: and not content
with ravaging tho districts of Mcndalli, Jcstan and Badmi, havo now ventured to approach
within 20 or 30 miles of Baghdad, Nejib Paslia lias endeavoured to meet this difficulty, by
proposing to restore the Tribe to independence, and by offering to a knowledge at Sheikh,
tho leader whom thpy have placed at their head. But tho Beni Lam show liitle appreciation
for this tardy recognition of their rights ; and even if they should find it expedient to accept
of Ncjit Pashas terms, Ilis Excellency will he compromised to a still more dangerous extent
with the Muntefik Sheikh who has already paid 100,000 Shamies for his new acquisition,
and will bo by no means disposed to relinquish it at Ilis Excellency’s bidding uulcss tho
purchase rnoucy be returned to him.
Among the Arabs to the north also, a combination is believed to have taken place,
which threatens oven more serious consequences for Baghdad. The Shamimar Chiefs, whose
power Nejib Pasha has hitherto paralyzed by placing one in opposition to the other, have
become reconciled, and have agreed lo direct their united efforts against the common enemy.
Saidoon,, the outlawed Sheik of tho Ohrid, proposes also to join them with his entire tribe : and
whon this coalition takes place, the combined forces will have it in their power to sweep Mesopo­
tamia to tho very gates of Baghdad.
The city itself moreover has been infested for the last few weeks with armed gangs of
plunderers, who parade the streets at night, and commit every species of atracity, and it is
bolieved that these parties have been purposely sont in from the desert to distract tho attention
of tho Government, and prevent tho detachment of troops for tho suppression of tho disorders
in the district.
It would be unfair to attribute thoso troubles altogether to Najib Pasha’s personnal
misconduct. Some allowanco must bo always made for the natural turbulence of tho Kurds
and Arabs but undoubtedly the immediato crisis has been produced by the character of His
Excellency's administration which sacrifices all other objects to tho one solo consideration of
accumulating monoy.