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o! Five luindercd Tons, and peculiarly easy of navigation. It has a free communication with
Shuster by the Kaffar and Caroon Rivers ; with Bagdad by the Rivers Tygris and Euphrates ;
•with Aleppo, by tho Desert j and through those channels, with the northern parts of Persia,
Coordistan. Armania, Georgia, Notalia, Syria and Europe; and the Sea opens to it, a
commercial Intrrcourse with India.
The nature of the Turkish Government is well known, and Expatiation on that subject,
is not therefore necessary. It may not however bo improper to remark, that although ihe
merchants of Bussora in former troublesome times, and during the Jato Revolutions, have
suffered considerably in their Property, from the Oppressions and Extortions of tho Govern­
ment ; the present Bacha and the former Bacha9 of Bagdad have shewn much favor, and have
.granted Protection, on all necessary occasions, os well to tho Merchants of the place, as to the
strengers who have visited it. He, and they have wisely considered, that commerce is the
truo aud essential support of Bussora, and that a Sea Port cannot be much frequented or
become of great Importance, unless its Government is favorable to mercantile People.
The importations usually made at Bussora in British vessels, in Vessels belonging to
the Moslem Merchants of Surat and of Muscat, and in Gallivats and Dows belonging to the
different Sea Ports of the Persian Gulph, consist of very largo quantities varying, however
in proportion to the State of Trade, of British Woollens, Bengal Piece Goods of near fifty
different kinds, Chintz of different kinds, from the Coromandel Coast, Madras Long Cloth,
Port NuovoBlue Goods, Malabar Cloth, Surat Piece Goods of all kinds, Cotton Yarn, Guzerat
Piece Goods, Chintz and Cuttaoies, Cambay Chauders, Broach and Soindy Cotton, Shauls,
Bamboos, Chinawnre, Sugar, Sugarcandy, Pepper, Ginger, Cardamuras, Cloves, Nutmegs,
Cinamon, Cassia Flowers, Musk, Lump Lack, Camphire, Turmeric, Indigo, Iron, Lead, Steel,
Tin, Tothenaque, Red Lead, Coffee, Tobacco, a variety of Drugs, and many less important
merchantilc Articles ; all which except the proportions thereof necessary for the consumption
of Bussora and its immediate vicinity are transported to Aleppo, and Bagdad by Carravans
to Bagdad direct by the River Tygris, and by the River Euphiatcs via H ilia and to Shus
by Boats.
The Remarks relative to the conveyance of Property by Carravans from Grain, to Alepo
and Bagdad, are entirely applicable, to the conveyance of Property by Carravans from Bussora
to Aleppo and Bagdad, and the Expence of such conveyance, is equal from both places.
The Bales of Merchandize usually transported from Bussora in Boats to Bagdad and
Shuster, are in weight from three to four hundred English Pounds, and the Noquedahs, or
Commanders of the Boats, will ia all Times, by customary agreement, engage to convey such
Bales, and to pay tho customs collected thereon, on the different Rivers from Bussora to Bagdad,
direct by the River Tygris, for a sum of money equal to Bombay rupees twelve; from Bussora
to Hilla by the River Euphrates, for a sura of money equal to Bombay Rupees fifteen ; and from
Bussora to Shuster, by the Rivers Haffar and Caroon for a sum of Money, equal to Bombay
rupees four. Merchandize is conveyed from Hilla to Bagdad, by land conveyance on Mules
and Camels, and the Expense of carriage between those places, of Bales of the before-mentioned
Description, amounts to a sum of money equal to Bombay Rupees four on each.
In consequence of Disputes occasionally subsisting amongst the Arabs, who inhabit tbe
Banks of tbe River Euphrates, and of their attempts to dispute the Turkish authority con­
siderable Danger sometimes atteuds, the conveyance of Property betweon Bussora and Hilla
in Boats.
The importations usually made at Bussora, in carravans from Aleppo and Bagdad, and by
Boats, and from Bagdad by the River Tygris, aud from Hilla by the River Euphrates, consist
of Spi'cie, some Gold and Silver and large quantities, varying however, in proportion to the
state of Trade, of Copper, Arsenic, Gaik, Catgut, Persian saffron aud Raw Silk, Gold and Silver
laje, Angora Shauls, Aleppo Flowered Piece Goods, Bagdad and Alleppo, Cuttanies, Shamecs,
Velvets, Silks, Sattins, English Shalloons, French Broad Cloth, Broad Cloth Cap6, Lamctts,
Ora Contarino, Venetian false Coral, and Beads of different kinds, large and small Looking
Glasses, Stained Glass, Brass wire, Coral, Cochineal, Tobacco, Opium, a variety of Drugs and
many less important mercantile Articles, all which, except particular Articles, only intended for
the Bussora market, and the proportions of the other Articles recessary for tho consumption
of Bussora, and its immediate vicinity, are transported, by means of tho boforementioned