Page 77 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter III. •GG
No. 26, daloil Baghdad, the 11th August 1852.
From—Majob B. Rawlinron,, Her Majostj's British Consul-General, Baghdad,
To—Colonel Hugh Boss, c.ii., Hor Slujesiy's Chnrgd d* Affaires, Constantinople.
The accompanying copy of a despatch which I recently addressed to the Foreign Office
will acquaint you with another very serious affair in which Namik Pasha has engaged with his
characteristic rashness, and which threatens to bring still further discredit upon his Govern­
ment. The officer Salim Pasha who was sent out to the Euphrates to concentrate troops from
Ilallah, Dagrah and Divaniych, and to lead the expedition against Nejjef, lias found him­
self unable hitherto to net upon the aggressive and has been compelled in consequence to employ
the powerful influence of the Sheea “ Uluna ” with a view to persuade the insurgents, who are
Shamerta Arabs, to surrender their Chiefs and evacuate tho Holy City. As yet 1 am in­
formed the Shamerta have shown no disposition to listen to pacific counsels, for they look with
contempt upon tho Turkish troops and are well aware that while Wndee Beg and the Auizch
hold the open country, no military impression can be made on their position. It appears
indeed that the plain of defence adopted systematically by this tribe is one, which would
try the metal of the best soldiers in the world. They place no reliance on the walls of the
town, but intrench themselves within in the strongest and most populous quarter throwing up
barricades across all the streets, connecting the houses by mines and galleries, loopholding the
walls and occupying overy commanding point with their match-lock men who arc admirably
armed, and arc the most expert marks-inen in this part of Asia. Salim Pasha’s difficulties,
if he thus attempted to expel the Shamerta by force, would he of the same nature as those which
met Cavaignac in the Fanbourg St. Antoine, while his chanco of success would he infinitely
less, inasmuch as the narrow streets and high walled Courts or an Oriental City afford
greater shelter to the defenders and the Turkisn soldier, brave even to daring in the open field
quails before a hiden enemy.
If the Turkish authorities, would condescend to employ the services of the Zignort Arabs, a
tribe who formerly shared with the Shamerta, the occupation of Nojjef, hut who were driven out
by their rivals some years ago, thcro would be a fair chance of a successful issue to the enter­
prise, hut although this course has buon suggested and oven strongly recommended. I doubt if
Namik Pasha's pride be yet sufficiently humbled to have recourse to allies, whom he would
consider contemptible and untrustworthy.
In the meantime Wadce Beg and the Anizeb have moved somewhat nearer to Baghdad,
so as to have complete command of the roads which had from Baghd id to the Euphrates, while
at the samo time they keep up communication with Kcrhela and Ncjjcf upon one flank and
with the Dilemupon the other. In the negociations with the latter tribe, which Namik Pasha
reluctantly consented to open little or no progress seems to have been yet made. To Civil
Mersagcs they have returned Civil anwers ; they are willing to receive robes of investiture for
the Sheiks, who were ruccmly denounced as rebels, but tuey have a decided objection to the
payment of revenue and will not consent that any Turkish Officer should reside amongt them.
Parties of Dilem horse continue moreover to scour the country around Baghdad and a day .
rarely passes without intelligence being brought in of plundering and burning and
not unfrcqucntly of bloodshed aud even massacre.
The insecurity indeed of life and property throughout this Pashalic ha9 become so notorious
that the Persian Government has now issued a general nolice, prohibiting the subjects of the
Shah from crossing the Baghdad frontier, and measures have been taken in consequence by
the Provincial Governor’s to detain forcibly the various parties who were proceeding westward
to join the great caravan which assembled at this season for the pilgrimage to Mecca. If
this order which circumstances sufficiently justify, should he rigidly carried out and should
remain in force for uny considerable time, it will be a still more serious blow to Baghdad
than even Turkish misgovernment on Arab devastation. Trade has languished of course ever
since the commencement of the present troubles but the shops and bazars of the town have
at any rate been kept open by tho requirements of the Persians, who cannot he restrained by
danger or disastor from pushing their way to the holy cities of Kcrbela and Ncjjcf. In
ordinary times the annual influx of visitors from Persia is estimated at 30,000 even during
the last year tho pilgrims who passed through Baghdad must have amounted to half that
number, and ten pounds may he reckoned as the average sum disbursed by each individual m
the Turkish territory. If the demand then, which these visitors occasion, should be suddenly
and entirely cut off, three-fourths of the shops would bo closod and the merchants who
furnished the retail traders, would be plunged into rum. I merely mention this circumstance
as an additional evidence of the evils of Namik Piisha’s Governmeut.
P S.—Since writing the above despatch intelligence bus reached me from Nejjef of
more favorable nature than I had expected.
It appears that the Shecah Priesthood apprehending in case of actual collision the
desecration and perhaps the plunders of the Shrine of Ali, aud anxious moreover on tho broad
ground of humanity, to prevent tho effusion of blood, have labored unceasingly, since their
mediation was invited hv Salim Pasha to effect an accommodation between tho Sbamirta
Arabs and the Government and I am further informed that their effects have been so far
successful that tins chief of the insurgents has now offered to evacuate the town of Nejjef, and
to remove to Ilillah, provided that personal security he guaranteed to him, and that he aud
his followers he permitted to carry their arms aud property with them in their migration.