Page 90 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

08 Part I.
Before concluding this despatch, I beg Your Excellency to pardon me for alluding to a
matter of a personal naturo. Great disappointment is naturally felt in England at the ;
7ion-
completion «/ the Meiopotatnian telegraph, and success being taken ns the Ust of efficiency,
the discredit of failure is to a certain extent, 1 understand, reflected upon myself. 'ITow far my
offorts have been rightly directed Your Excellency can alone judge, hut if they could have been
so fortunate as to gain your approval, I respectfully hopo that in the measures under
contemplation I may he honoured with Your Excellency's support and permitted at least to
accomplish a task of which, having been once entrusted with its execution, I could not but
fcol it a disparagement to bo relieved at the last stngo.

No. 39, dated tho 13th July 1S61.
From—CotOKKt A. B. Ivkuiull, c.b., Her Majesty’s Consul-Qonoral at Bagdad,
To—Hie Exckllknct tuk Bight Ho.n’ulk Sib H. L. Bcuybb, g.o.H., Her Majesty's Ambassador,
Constantinople.
Tho Rais Pasha, with about 2,000 Regular Troops, 350 Irregular Cavalry, and a largo
Ufa Arab Contingent, marched from Diwanieli on the
evening of the 21st instant.
Previous to the departure of his expedition the Beni Zcraij, a tribe located in Mesopotamia
between Runncythah and Elkhidr, who are at feud with tho Alboo IIossein and Lthuiofylim, the
tribes who defeated the Turkish detachment, were invited by tho Government to co-operate
against the latter, and, according to a telegram received yesterday by Namik Pasha, had
already commenced tho attack and inflicted much loss upon the tribes in question, when the
troops coming up completed their discomfiture. The missing gun is reported to have been
recovered and Gi) or 70 of the Arabs killed, with the loss of only two killed and three wounded
on the side of the Turks and 10 killed and wounded amongst the auxiliaries.
From letters received from Sheikh Fahud it would seem that an incursion made by
Suleyman, the sou r«£ the rebel Chief Mnnsoor, into Mesopotamia had been successfully
resisted, and that jlInn sour and his adherents *ha(l been compelled to return to the right bank
of the Euphrates: Sheikh Fnhud at the same time announces his intention to advance from
the Hye to Durojee, taking with him ilio detachment of troops, consisting of 300 men and
one gun, which was loft at Shutreh by the Rais Pasha. It is to be hoped that, owing to the
weakness or defection of its Arab supporters, so small a force may not a second timo fie exposed
to the attacks of overwhelming numbers.
From Bussorah Mr. Johnston reports that the Beni Malik had attacked and plundered
some of the tribes friendly to government, but had been checked by tho arrival of Mahomed
Pasha with a detachment of regular troops in ono of the Turkish steamers.
Osman Beg has surrendered himself to the authorities of Diwanieli j a prico offered for
bis head appears to have induced'him to take this step.

No. 43, dated tbo 10th AngURt 18G4.
From—CotONBL A.B. Kemball, c.d., Her Majesty's Consul-General at Bagdad,
To— Hib Excbm.b.vcy thb Right IIox-'blb Sib H. L. Bdlweb, o.c.d., lier Majesty's Ambassador,
Constantinople.
The expedition under Rais Hafiz Pasha, after paining a further advantage over thn rcbol
tribes in its progress towards Sumaweh, has
made good its march to that place. Tho action
is reported, to have occurred on the banks of tho Aboo Cholb. The: loss of the Arabs was
excessive, being stated at not less lliun 600 in killed and wounded, including womon and
children, for little quarter was confessedly given on the. occasion and much cattle and booty
fell into the hands of the troops.
This victory is confidently believed by Namik Pasha to have put an end to tho rebellion,
and if, as Mr. Johnston reports by a telegram from Bussorah, dated 4-th instant (received at
Bagdad in four days),, Sheikh Munsoor be really preparing to rotiro to Koweit on his way to
Nedjd, the hopo is thu6 afforded of tranquillity being, for a time restored, the moro especially
that the Khuzail Chief, whoso conduct was regarded with much suspicion by tho Government,
. . _ . , u . Las abstained, from overtly, assisting the rebel
brlt" tribe,. that Sheikh Whas speeded m
joining.Hfiza Pasha at Sumaweh. The loss on the
Turkish side is said not to have exceeded nine killed and wounded,.
The above are the details derived from Turkish sources. I am* bound to add, however,
that, according to native information, the tribes plundered by tho troops were not those in
.
rebellion, which tribes, previous to the -engagement reported by last. post. bad. removed Mieir
families and chattels to tbo Khuzail districts, but pastoral tribes, who had'previously.sent peace
offerings to tho commander of the Turkish force, and had been assured by him of lmmuni y
from molestation. The capture of so large a number of 17,000 6hoep, acknowledged by
Turks and the undoubted slaughter of women and children under circumstances, it i9 fan , o
great atrocity (whereas revolted Arabs are wont to place their flocks and families in sa o y
when expecting to be attacked) give some color of truth to this version of the affair.
Accounts from Bussorah continue to be satisfactory, the threatened movements in that
quarter having been apparently suppressed.