Page 250 - Gulf Precis (1-B)_Neat

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18. The decline of the Commerce with Persia, from the death of Kerim Khan, till Aga
Mahommed Khan Cujjar fixed himself upon the throne, during which short period that King­
dom had eight Monarchs, is so far from being a matter of surprise, that our wonder is forcibly
excited to conceive how any trade at all could be carried on with a nation at so distracted an
epoch. The only Factory which the Ilou'blc Company attempted to preserve was that of
Abusheher, and its Records during this period are a continued detail of dangers and losses.
19. Since the Establishment of the Cujjar family upon the Throno in tho year 1792,
Trade has revived in eveiy quarter, and the quiet succession of tho Reigning Prince to tho
Aga Mahommed, was no less a subject of astonishment, than Congratulation, to tho inhabitants
of Persia, who from so happy a beginning anticipate a continuance of internal Peaco under a
succession of Princes of this race, the founder of which took effectual measures to prevent a
further rivalship in the family of Kerim Khan, all of whom he seized and destroyed.
20. Although the reigning Family are frequently blamed for their severity to Governors
of Towns and Provinces, which in such a Government must always occasion oppression of the
poor, they have been remarkable ever since they enjoyed power for the protection and encourage­
ment which they have given to Trade in every quarter of their Dominions ; nor is there one
Instance of injustice towards a Merchant from the accession of Aga Mahommed Cujjar to the
present day.
The happy effects of thi6 Conduct, if steadily pursued, will soon appear. Strangers will
frequent the country, commerce will revive, industry be excited and Persia will again become
a prosperous Nation.
21. In speaking of Arabia I will confine myself to those parts of it, which are imme­
diately connected with nty subject, these are the cities Baghdad and Bussorah, the Southern
Shore of the Persian Gulph and the Proviuce of Oman.
22. Baghdad stands on the banks of a fine river, which carries its Trade to Persia, India-
and eastern parts of Arabia by the Persian Gulph, and by the same'channel—it imports the
produce of those countries ; it is also from its situation the natural Emporium of all inland
Trade between Persia and Turkey.
23. Bussorah, though a dependency, may well be termed the support of Baghdad. It
stands in Arabia Deserta, 70 miles from the Persian Gulph, on the Western bank, of that
noble river which is formed by the junction of the Tigris and Euphrates, and the Commerce
from India to Baghdad, and between the former and a great part of the Turkish Empire
necessarily passes through this city.
24. I have already observed Bussorah was a Port where several European Nations
established factories, when Gombroon was abandoned : it became then the chief, and indeed
for a period the only, establishment of the English in this quarter. Amongst other causes
which accelerated its decline, the principal was the dreadful plague which in the year 1773
desolated both it and Baghdad.
25. Within these few years however, these Cities have recovered in a considerable degree
but more particularly the latter, which circumstances is cheafly ascribed to the wisdom and
justice of Soliman Bashaw, a Prince, with whose character and relation to the Ottomon Porte,
I Your Lordship is fully acquainted.
26. The Arabian Shore of the Persian Gulph is under the rule of different Shaikhs ; the
principal of whom are those of Graine, and Ra6ul Khima. The power of the former whose
name is Shaikl^ Abdullah Bin Sabah, extends over Graine, Bahrien, Citiff, and Zubara, the
tribe of which he is the chief are termed Riny Attayba more commonly called Uttoobees.
They carry on a considerable Trade with Bussorah, Muscat, Surat, and the Coast of Malabar.
27. The Chief Risul Khima whose name is Shaikh Suker, governs a tribe called Jonassin,
and his territory lies near Cape Mossuldom. He has about fifty small vessels, a few of which
he employs in Trade, but the greater number in piracy ; these have recently b*en very active,
and but too successful in intercepting the Trade of the Gulph.
28. The capital of Orain is Muscat, where tho Imftmc resides. This place is well situated
for a mart between the Red Sea and Pereian Gulph, and since the decline of Gombroon it has
been so also for a great proportion of the commerce carried on between the Gulph and India
an advantage for which it is chiefly indebted to the activity and justice of its Rulers.