Page 76 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

fidi Part I.
villagers on his lino of march has established himself at Musail on tho Euphrates within a
couple of easy marches of Baghdad. From this point he is in immediate communication on
his left (lank with the Dilem and Anizuh, who are in undisputed possession of all the dis­
tricts to tho westward, as far up tho Euphrates as tho town of Annah, while his right Hank
threatens llillahand not only blockades the roads conducting to Kerbcla and Nnjjef but also
completely isolates the field force at Diwanich Detachments of horso from Wndeo Beg's
Head Quartois or from the Camps of the DiLm and Anizoh, arc at tho same time securing
the country up to tho o-ates of Baghdad, driving off camels, plundering caravans, clearing
out and burning tho villages in the suburbs, and committing every species of havaoo aud
disorder.
Perhaps tho most sorious element of danger howover is tho spirit of discontent which
is beginning to manifest itself in tho army. Tho members of tho military council have from
tho commencement of the present troubles protested against the impolicy of attempting
with such inadequate means to coerce the entiro Arab population of tho province and tho
Senior Officer of tho Baghdad Army Shakir Pasha, has been suspended by Namik Pasha
from his functions for some time past owing to the freedom with which he expressed his
opinions on this subject lately too several Colonels both of Infantry and Cavalry, havo de­
clined to undertake duties which Namik Pasha has proposed to them, and I am assured that
the soldiers are now beginning to murmur at the privations and fatigues to which they oro
unceasingly exposed for uo iutclligiblc object, and without any prospect of termination.
To these murmurs indeed is it I think to bo attributed that within the last few days
Namik Pasha has for the first time condescended to have recourse to conciliation, in order
to weaken the combination against him—he is now, I am informed sending out 6ome of the
" ulema " to make terms with the Dilem and to endeavour to buy off the Anizeh hut he
still remains as implacable as ever against Wadoo Beg, and the influence of that Chi**f is so
great at presont over the numerous tribes which have ranged themselves under his banner
that I can hardly augur favorably for a negotiation from which he is excluded and which is
moreover tardy, ungracious, and almost compulsory.
In such a state of affairs Your Excollcncy will not bo surprised to learn that the British
merchants of Baghdad have thought it necessary to address to me a letter complaining of
the severe losses to which they are exposed, nor that I havo considered it my duty to trans­
mit their complaint to His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the
hone that His Lordship may authorize a remonstrance at Constantinople against Namik
Pashas sustained misgoverument on the ground of direct injury to British Commercial
interests.
A enpy of my letter to Lord Malmesbury transmitting and explaining the complaint
of the merchants forms enclosure to this despatch and as every day adds to tho difficulties of
our position, I beg respectfully to rccommcud the same to Your Excellency’s consideration
in the event of an opportunity offering for bringing the matter to tho notice of the Porte in
anticipation of instructions from Downing Street.
I have only to state in conclusion that at any other time on receiving tho complaint
of the merchants, I should have considered it my duty to despatcli our war steamer to Bussorah
to escort the boats laden with British cargo up the river, but at the present season tue
trip could not be undertaken without entailing a very severe loss of life among the European
crew, owing to the intolerable heat and the pestilential climate of the lower river; while
tho steamer also is, I regret to say, owing to damaged boilers in such a state, that she could
not be prudently sent on any service, where she might be required to come into action with the
Arabs. A new steamer of war has been lying in the Bombay Docks for many months past,
filled out expressly for the relief of the present crippled vessel, but tho exigencies of toe
Burmese War have hitherto prevented the Bombay authorities from despatching a steam
Private to the Persian Gulf iu charge of ihe river Craft, and I thus hardly expect to be indepen­
dent of Turkish assistance in protecting British Commerce in these parts before tho end of
the current year.
We the undersigned British morchanti of Baghdad, have the honour to bring to your notice
I the very serious impediment to the prosecution of our business in these parts which have existed
for many months and continue to the present time, owing to the extremely insecure state of
the country which has almost entirely suspended the Trade of Pashalic.
We have each a large boat containing our respective goods laden at Bussorah for Baghdad
from the British vessels ‘ Brilliant * and ‘ Fortitude' in the month of March last, which have
since t th^n, together with a number of oilier boats been detained, tho Nakodas and
Trackera being afraid to come on in consequence of thp deplorab-y unsettled stace of tribes on
the river, and from the same reason, the communication botweeo this and Bussorah beiog
almost cut off, we are ourselves 6till without any certain intelligence as to whether or not they
have as yet commenced their passage.
We would beg to call your attention to tbo actual loss. We necessarily sustain by this
detention of our property, also to the very imminent danger there is, of tho coast being
plundered by Arabs, if they should uow be on their way up the Tigris, and wo make this joiut
representation, in the hopes that you will kindly take such steps as you may consider likely
to have a tendency to bring this state of thiugs to a termiuai iuu.