Page 82 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

60 Part I.
members of the ruling families, whoso privileges und immunities must bo thereby groatly our-
tailed, nor, indopd, without some sacrifice of vuvonuo at tho outsot; but ho has directed Suloi-
man Heg to deal prudently and leniently with theso individuals ; and ho is justly conlidcnt that
With the gradual amelioration of tho oomlilion of tho ryot, whioh it is hoped to introduce must
ensue also an increaso of incomo to tho publio treasury.
It cannot, I think, be doubted that, whilo on the one hand a more regular administration
mutt eventually supply a better guarantee for the security of the telegraph, the continuous
intercourse with Turkish and English employes by enhancing the responsibilities of all the
parties concerned must, on the other hand, operate to promote its successful establishment.
As regards tho construction of tho dyke of tho Jczair, the reform thus initiated will, of
oourso, prccludo a rccour>o to tho former vicious system of contract through tho instrumenta­
lity of. tho Arab Sheikhs, with its attendant evils of forced labor auil arbitrary exactions;
accordingly, His Excelloncy informs mo that, having failed to procuro tho appointment of a
compotont engineer from Egypt, ho purposes to move the Poito to ongage tho services of an
experienced Dutch Ofiicer for this purpose, who should be conversant with the execution of
similar works. From 8,0u0 to 10,UU0 purses aro alroady available to dofray tho cost if sanc­
tioned by tho Porte.
Sheikh Bunder, lato farmer of tho Montcfilc districts, died at. Baghdad after a brief illness
on the 13th instant, leaving a deficit of 5,000 purses due to the treasury, of which sum not a
moiety is now probably recoverable. As is natural, the suddon demiso of this Chief has given
rise to suspicions of foul play ; but Turkish oliicials had obviously no intorest in Iii6 decease, and
snob suspicions accordingly, for which, however, no foundation has boen discovered, aro directed
moro especially against the rival members of his own family.
14i2. From tho subsequent despatches of Colonel Komball, however, it
appears that the reform introduced by Namik Pasha mot with a disastrous
failure. Wo shall quote some of Colonel Kemballc’s despatches in exlenso
throwing as they do much light on tho state of the rival parties among tho
Montofiks, which Namik Pasha tried to set against one another, and show
how the British Resident took a lively interest in these tribal affairs especially
with a view to facilitate the construction of Telegraph from Fao to Baghdad
i
and was admitted to his confidence and consulted confidentially by Namik
Pasha as well as looked up to by the Montofiks as an intermediary. It will
bo noticed that Namik Pasha viewed the friendly relations of Colonel Kemball
with tho Montofiks with extreme jealousy:—

No- 1, dated tlio 13th January 18(51.
From—CotONEt A. B. Kzuoall, c. b., Her Majesty's Consul-Gcnoralat Baghdad,
To—Tho IIox’dle E. M. Ehskine, Iler Majesty's Chnrgd d' Affaires, Constantinople.
I have tho honor to report my return to Baghdad yesterday evening, and to submit for
your Excellency’s information copy of a despatch which I addressed from Bussorah to tho
Secretary to Government, Bombay.
Tho telegram which I this day transmit to Constantinople (copy and translation subjoined
will have explained to Your Excellency the nature of tho partial disturbances therein referred
to. Sheikh Munsoor, the recontly-appointed Kaim Maknm of the Montefik districts, dissemb­
ling his irritation at the restriction of his powers and at tho dismemberment, of the territory
ovor which his family had previously exerted an hereditary control, laid his plans to intimidato
the Government into the restoration of tho former regime. Accordingly, on arrival within
his own limit-*, he suppressed the public notification, which, by defining his own authority,
extinguished the arbitrary rule of tho Arab Chiefs, and placed the country under the same
system of administration elsewhere prevailing in tho Ottomau dominions; he virtually con­
fined Sulieman Beg by surrounding him with guards under the pretext of his life being
endangered ; and lie dispatched emissaries in every direction to misrepresent the inteutions of
the Government, and to invite tho heads of tribes to join him in making a stand for Arab
independence, to the extent at least of recovering their position as racro tributaries. Happily
in those quarters where it might he apprehended that such suggestions would bo well
received in the newly-settled Beni Lam and Alboo Mahomed districts, as also among the
Khazaal tribes, the experience of Turkish sway lias not disposed the inhabitants to second any
efforts for its subversh n, and judging from my own observation even among the Montefik
peasantry, the oppression to which they were subjected by their Arab rulers (who, it will bo
remembered, exercised the power of life and death) would assuredly deprive them of all
sympathy with the latter were they assured of the power and determination of tho. Govern­
ment to carry out its policy, and not again to abandon them to tho vengeance of their oppres­
sors Accordingly, the small tribes subordinate to the Monlefik Sheikhs, on either bank of
the Euphrates, while obeying tho behests of Sheikh Munsoor to the extent of stopping the
navigation of the river, have abstained from any overt act, or movement, that would commit
them to rebellion ; and the same exjieclant attitude may, indeed, be said to have been assumed
by the neiyhbouiing Arab communities, who aro watching the endeavours of the local
authorities to counteract his intrigues.
But while thus exciting disaffection against the Government, Sheikh ilfuntoor writes to
Hi® Excellency Namik Pasha professing his loyalty, but attesting the aversion of tho lnllucn-