Page 71 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter III. 49
against the Government or iudeed to learn that thoy have any right to depend, that I should
apprehend the probability of the Siraslrcirs bcnovolout exertions in this instance, if success­
ful, proving fatal to Nejib Pasha's administration.

No. 19, dated Baghdad, tho Cth Juno 1849.
From—Major II. C. Rawmwson, Her Brilnnnio Majesty’s Consul at Baghdad,
To—His Excellency the Rioiit IIon’dle $in S. Canniho, G.C.B., Hor Britannic Majesty’s
Ambassador at Constantinople.
In continuation of my despatch No. 17. I have now the honor to report further on the
progress of affairs in the Pasltalic of Baghdad.
S. C., 26th August 1849, Nob. 26-20.
On the arrival at the Ilimlich of tho Civil and Military Commissioners sent from Bagh­
dad, renewed attempts were mado on the part of the former Officer to justify the proceedings of
Shoikh Wadee and to persuade tho military authorities to put down the revolt of the
Arabs by force, hut the instructions of Ahdi Pasha, the Sera^kipr both to his own Commis­
sioner, and to tho Officer Commanding tho troops, were so explicit against the adoption of any
measures of offence, unless the Arabs committed fresh disorders, that this scheme entirely
failed, and after a week’s negneiation, therefore, Nejib Pasha’s Officer found himself compelled,
as tho only means of proventing a further complication of the question, to acquiesce in the
removal of the obnoxious Chief to Baghdad, and in the appointment of a popular local func­
tionary to tho temporary charge of the district. A most violent correspondence has in the
mcantimo been carried on between Nejib Pasha and the Scraskicr at Baghdad. His Excellency
protesting against the interference of his Military Colleague in matters of Civil Government
and threatening to hold him personally responsible for the residuo of Sheikh Wadees’ con­
tract, amounting to a sum of about 5,000 purses ; while Abdil Pasha has replied, that he is
acting agreeably to his instructions from Head Quarters, and that he is perfectly willing to
abide by the decision of tho Porte on tho merits of the pending question. Ahdi Pasha, indeed
on a Into occasion, when Mons. Aristarch and many of tho Chief Officers of the Baghdad
Government were present did not hesitate to denounce in tho strongest terms tho terrible
corruption and the withering tyranny of Nejib Pashas’ system of administration, and to de­
clare that if, as he was led to believe, the provinces of the empire were thus generally misgovern­
ed, every consideration of loyalty, of justice, of humanity, of common prudence even giving I
way to a blind and unhallowed thirst for gold, so far from looking to the possible regeneration
of the Turkish nation, or to its ever taking a place among the civilized powers of Europe, ho
trembled from day to day for the security of the Sultan’s Throne. Such a sentiment deliver­
ed on a public occasion aud coming from such an authority as the Scraskicr, may give Your
Excellency, an idea of tho true character of Nejib Pasha’s Government, as well as of the ex­
treme danger to be apprehended from the two officers remaining associated in power at
Baghdad.
The successful resistance indeed of the Arabs of tho Hindieh and the notoriety of the
misunderstanding between Nejib Pasha and the Seraskicr are already producing their due
effect generally throughout the Pachalie. Tho Obeid under Sheikh Saadoou, have within these
few days risen “ en Masse,” murdered the Chief Youssouf-cl-Omar,to whom they had been sold
by Nejib Pasha, and after driving away tho irregular troops who had been detached from
Baghdad for that Chief’s support, they are now reported to he plundering the whole tract of
country from Sammarra and Tckrit up to the gates of Kerkook. A further altercation also has
taken place between His Excellency and Ahdi Pa<ha, as to the best means of meeting th is new
difficulty, Nejib Pasha insisting as usual, that the regular troops shall he employed immediate­
ly and in sufficient f <rcc against the insurgents, while tho Seraskier has counselled tho re­
cognition of Sheikh Saudnon, tho titular and hereditary Chief of the tribe, observing that at
such a season and under circumstances of such general excitement, he cannot for the mere object
of gratifying Ilis Excellency's personal pique against that individual, or io order to secure a
few thousand piastres for His Excellency’s treasury, expose the Infantry and Artillery of the
Sultan’s Army to the intolerable hardships and the doubtful results of a campaign in the
Mesopotamian desort.
With regard to the Peni Lam, I have-further to report, this that have finally rejected
Nejib Pasha's offers to restore them to independence, and to acknowledge Sheikh Madhkoor as
their Chief on an adequate guarantee being provided for his regular payment of revenue.
An attempt was made by an officer of tho Irregular Horse (the same Officer who murdered
Suffook) to lure Sheikh Mudhkoor to an interview, the robe oE iuvestiture which had heeo
brought out from Baghdad, being paradod before his emissaries, and a sealed Karan boinv
sent to assure him of his personal safety—but the wily old chief would not venture into the
Turkish Camp. He replied indeed to the Officer's invitation that “ as it was contrary to
etiquette for him to attend empty handed at the ceremony of his investiture, and as his late
misfortunes left him penniless, he proposed to pitch his camp on the banks of the lower Tigris
and await the arrival of tho Bassorah fleot, after which he should probably he in a condition
not only to return n suitable present for his robes of Office, but to satisfy Nejib Pasha with re­
gard to arrears of revenue and to furnish a yuarautee for the future.”
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