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Devastations of the Plngue. It has been computed that Bussora and Bagdad, and the Countries
adjacent thereto, suffered n loss of near one third part of their Inhabitants from the ravages
of that terrible calamity.
From the Periods of the removal of the English Factory from Bussora in the year 1776,
and the Capturo of Bussora by tho Persians in the year 1776, to those of the Death of Karim
Khan, of the consequent rolinquisbraent of Bussora, by the Persians and of the He-establiah-
raent there of tho Turkish Government in tho year 1779, few British Vessels visited the Port
of Bussora and although on the return of tho English Factory to Bussora in the year 1776
and during the latter part of tho period, in which the Persians held Possession of Bussora
considerable sales of Woollens were effected by the Hon’ble Company’s servants, and many
commercial Articles, tho Property of Individuals met advantageous sales; yet tho Commerco
of Bussora then received the most serious Injury, from the violent Injustice and Extortions of
the Persians from tho consequent Flight of many rich and enterprizing Merchants, and of a
great part of tho remaining Inhabitants of Bussora and from the large Quantity of Specie
conveyed by the Persians to their own Country. In the years 1779 and 1780, Bussora had
rather tho Appearance of a depopulated and ruinous City, than of a rich crowded busy and
prosperous Sea Port, to which Hon’ble title, that place had long with great Propriety
boaBted an undisputed Right.
From the year 1780 to the Period, of the commencement, of the War, in which the
Ottomans are engaged, and of the seizure of Bussora by the Montific Arabs in the year 1787
Bussora began to revive. The Number of its Inhabitants gradually increased. Some of
the Merchants, who had abandoned, Bussora, whilst under the Persian Government;
returned to it; many of the Resident Merchants of Bussora, encouraged by tho prevailing
tranquility, and the prospect of gain, took the necessary measure, for tho Importation at
Bussora, of considerable quantities of India Piece Goods ; British Vessels, and Vessels belonging
to Indian Merchants, again frequented the Port of Bussora ; the Merchants of Constantinople.
Damascus, Aleppo, Arfa, Diarbckir, Mosul, Merdin and Bagdad, again resorted to Bussora j
sales of Woollens were there effected by the servants of the Hon’ble Company, with some
Advantage, Indian Commodities of all kinds met a speedy, and profitable vend; and Commerce
reared her drooping Head.
The War in which the Ottomans are engaged, and the late revolutions in.the Government
of Bussosa, have however since, reduced the commerce of Bussora. to so very languid a state,
that the Importations at Bussora in the year 1789 of Indian Piece Goods* did not exceed the
Number of 800 Bales, the whole Treasure Freight of the Merchant Vessels on their return
to India did not in that year exceed, the value of Bombay Rupees fifty thousand, and it was
not possible to dispose of a small and choice assortment of Woollens, the Property of the
Hon’ble Company, but at a very long credit.
Tho Plague, the Invasion of the Persians,'the War in which the Ottomans ore at present
engaged, and the late Revolutions iu the Government of Bussora, have been already
mentioned as principal causes of the Decline of the commerce of Bussora, it will be now
necessary to describe other circumstances, which have had the same Tendency.
In the Turkish Dominions a scarcity of specie has long prevailed. It has gradually
increased and is daily increasing. The pecuniary Difficulties under which the Turkish
Empire, in General, and the city of Bussora, in particular, consequently labour, are of the
most serious and distressing nature. Previous to the Plague, the Major part of the Specie
Remittances made from Bussora to India, was composed of Turkish Gold coins. Since the
capture of Bussora by tho Persian few Turkish coins, proper for Remittance to India, have
been procureable there. The specie remittances to India have therefore latterly chiefly consisted
of Venetian chequins from Bussora, and the Ports on the Arabian shore of tho Persian Gulph,
and of Venetian chequins, Indian and Persian Gold and Silver Coins from Muscat.
A considerable loss, has arisen on all the Remittances, latterly made from Bussora to
India. Neither Specie Gold, Silver, Pearl, Pearl Respondentia, Coral, Venice Ware, Coppe r nor
any other mercantile Articles, have for some years, yielded in the Indian Markets to their
Proprietors, the amount of their value in Bussora, and the charges of their conveyance from
thence.
Encouraged by tho Difficulties, under which commerce has laboured, and by the consequent
Inability of tho commonality to purchase Piece Goods for cloathing the produce of India, a