Page 95 - Gulf Precis (1-B)_Neat

291

CCVIII.
Extratt from a Despatch from the Agent and Council at Basrah dated 1st February 177 &
to the Court of Directors;
In our last respects wo informed your Honour of tho defoat of tho Persians gia^hreaattet°^ p®rn’
by the Itaoha’9 troops in Coordistan, wo informed you also that it was generally Ba<rah. The K*ab
sack Bassrah.
expected that Curcm Caun would endeavour to revenge it on the Turks either
‘by an attack on Bagdat or Bussora, and that as tho latter lay more open to his
attacks, it was thought they would first bo directed against it. Whilst the
inhabitants of Bussora wero iu this suspence, the Chaub’s people (in revenge for
tho execution of an Arab of that tribe punished by the Mussaleem for robbery
in Bussora, for several nights together, came up the river in small boats, entered
the town in parties, robbed and plundered the houses, and towards the morning
retired with their booty—the Mussaleem to put a stop to those disorders, increased
his guards by a party of Arabs from Zebier, hired on purpose, and obliged the
inhabitants to watch in sevoral parts of the town ; their numbers however, were
too small, and tho town too extensive, notwithstanding all his care the Chaub’s
people still committed the same disorders, they even attempted to burn the
Bazar, and several times beat off the guards who were sent to oppose them.
The Turks from these circumstances were convinced of their own weakness,
and began seriously to consider the consequences of being attacked by the
Persians and Chaub, when they were not in a capacity of securing the town
from being plundered by the latter alone—their apprehensions of Carem Caun
consequently increased and induced the Massaleem with Shaik Dervise and the
Duftardar to pay a visit under the 13th Ultimo to the Agent at the factory.
After many professions of friendship to the Agent and English in general from
the Bacha and Mussaleem, after observing as a proof thereof the Bacha having
directed the Mussaleem to consult the Agent on all material points in which
the Bacha’s interests, an., the prosperity of Bussora were concerned, the
Mussaleem requested his advice on the then uncertain posture of affairs
between the Turks aud Persians, and the probability of Carem Caun’s
attacking this place. He requested to know also what were the Agents
intentions, and ■ how the English would act in such a case ? The Agent
acknowledged himself much obliged for the good opinion that the Bacha and
Mussuleem entertained of him and as a proof if it said he would give the best
advice that was in his power. He observed to the Mussaleem the wee,k state
of the town as well with respect to fortifications artillery or soldiers, of which
in his opinion the Bacha ought immediately to be informed, and to be requested
to send down as soon as possible from 3 to 4000 men from Bagdat for the
defence of it. In the mean time he recommended to the Mussaleem to write to
the Montific Saik to hold his Arabs in readiness for defending the banks of
the river, and to employ people in Persia on whom he could depend to give'him
t^e earliest intelligence of Carem Caun’s designs. With respect to the part,
that the English intended pursuing, the Agent informed the Mussaleem it was
that of the strictest neutrality, that as soon as the Agent thought it prudent, he
should embark with the rest of the English on board the two Cruizers. Now­
here first shipping off tho Honourable Corapanys and other English effects, for
which purpose solely the Cruizers were kept here.

ccix. ,
Agent and Council, Basrah, to Joiin Bea.ua.mont, Bushire.
Sir,
We despatch this letter by the way of Groin purposely to inform you that
the Persian army under Saddoo Khan has advaucel very near Bussora and