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Subjects and Dependents, both in their Persons and Property even during the Misfortunes, War
and Revolutions, which have latterly united, to injure that once opulent and flourishing
city.
Even possessed of the beforomentioned advantages, it has uot however been in the power
of the Ilou’ble Company’s servants stationed at Bussora, to render their commercial
Intercourse, with Arabia bordering on the Persian Gulf, beneficial to their Employers. Tho
Hon’ble Company’s late consignments to Bussora have consisted entirely of Broad Cloth
&nd Long Ells, which have neither meet speedy or profitable sales, in consequence of the increaso
in their Invoice Prices, of variations, in tho rates of Exchange, of the Scarcity of Specie, of tho
importations at Bagdad and Bussora of French Woollens of different kinds, and of tho serious
obstructions, caused to tho commerce of Bussora by the Revolutions which have lately happened
in the Government of that city aud by tho War in which the Ottomans are at present engaged.
Tho consignments of Indian Price Goods, made to Bussora, by British aud other Traders
sinco the year 1786 have in general proved unprofitable Adventures.
It has already been remarked, that the commerce of Bagdad, is greatly dependent on the
commerce of Bussora, and tho Information which has been already given relative to the
commercial Intercourse between tho two cities is ample. The situation of Bagdad, is
extremely favourable to the purposes of commerce, and the communication, which is generally
open between that City, and the northern Parts of Persia ; Coordistan, Armenia, Georgia,
Natolia, Turkey iu Europe, aud Syria, affords a variety of branches of commerce, to the
choice of an enterprizing Merchant. Carravans frequently pass, not however without being
occasionally exposed to considerable danger, between Bagdad and Iaphahan, via Haraada
and Erzerum, between Bagdad and many of the Towns in Coordistan, Armenia and Georgia
between Bagdad, and the cities of Merdin, Mosul Diarbekir, Arfa and Constantinople, nnd
between Bagdad and the cities of Aleppo, and Damascus, and convey to Bagdad considerable
sums of money and to and from that place, the several mercantile Articles, which have been
already particularized under the denominations of exportations from, and importations at
Bussora, and sundry other articles of commerce, produced at some and proper for the
consumption as well of others of those places, as of the Europe Markets. The Persian
Merchants and Pilgrims who annually visit Bagdad, convey to it many valuable commercial
Articles, the Manufactures and Produce of Persia considerable sums of Money.
The Government of Bagdad is favorable to commerce, although the duties collected on
importations made there are exorbitant ones.
Canaea of the De- It will appear evident from the information that has been already given in the course of
ma°rea of Roiaor*™" report, on the subject of the commerce of Arabia bordering on the Persian Gulf, that
although a favourable change has latterly taken place, in the commercial Interests of Muscat*
Beahreen, Jebarra, and Grain, the commercial Importance of Bussora has since the year 1773
most materially decreased. Ao Attempt will be here made to give, an Idea of the disadvan­
tageous Difference which has taken place in the commerce of Bussora, since tho Period of the
removal of the Hon’ble Company’s factory from Gombroon, to explain the causes of its
Decline, and to shew, that the merchants of Bussora, have still, however, some remaining,
Incentives to commercial Pursuits.
From the Period of the removal of the English Factory from Gombroon to the year 1773
in which a violent Plague ravaged Bagdad and Bussora, and the Countries adjacent thereto,
the commerce of Bussora was very considerable ; and the annual Importations made at
Bussora in Indian Piece Goods alone, amounted on an average to tho Number of three thousand
or three thousand five hundred Bales ; which Bales were chiefly the property of the Merchants
settled in Bengal at Masulipatnam, Madras and Surat, and were conveyed from thence to
Bussora, in Ten or Twelve Vessels, belonging to British subjects, aud to the Moslem Merchants
of Surat, which Vessels convoyed to India large 6ums of Money and many valuable mercantile
Articles. During the beforementioned Period the Hon’ble Company made considerable
Importations at Bussora, in Broad Cloth and Long Ells, and trifling Importations at that
place, iu Imbossed Cloth, Carpets, Tin, Lead, Iron, Steel, &ca., Articles.
From the cessation of tho Plague, and the return of tho English Factory to Bussora to
the year 1775, the period in which a very large Persian Army, under the Command of Sadao
Khan, Brother to Carim Khan, then Vakeel of Persia, undertook the siege of Bussora, tho
British commercial Intercourse, with that place, and its general commerce materially declined
which unfavorable circumstances, may with propriety bo principally attributed to tbo