Turkish vessels engaged in slave traffic, the exclusion of Arab and Persian slavers from Turkish ports in the Persian Gulf, and the delivery of liberated slaves to British vessels to be carried back to their native country. In 1881 a Convention (No. XII) was arranged between Great Britain and Turkey. Among its provisions is one authorising British cruisers to visit, search and, if necessary, detain any Ottoman vessel engaged in the traffic in African slaves in the Persian Gulf, with a corresponding reciprocal clause in favour of Turkish cruisers.

In October 1863 an Engagement (No. XIII) was made with the Sublime Porte for the continuation of lines of telegraph from Baghdad to Basra and from Baghdad to Khanakin, in order to meet the Indian telegraph by way of the Persian Gulf and the line through Persia to the Turkish frontier; and in 1864 a Treaty (No. XIV) was concluded between Great Britain and Turkey for establishing telegraphic communication between India and the Ottoman territory.

Up to the year 1871 Turkish territory on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula had extended as far south as Fao, at the mouth of the river Shattul-Arab. In that year Abdulla bin Fazl, Amir of Nejd, invited the Wali of Baghdad to assist him against his brother Saud. The Turks with Abdulla's aid, and ostensibly on his behalf, occupied Katif and the oasis of Hasa, and then declined to make them over to Abdulla.

At that time the Pashalik of Basra was incorporated with that of Baghdad. Four years later it was separated, to be re-incorporated in 1880. In 1884 it was again separated and the districts of Amara, Muntafik, and Hasa, each of which is governed by a Mutasarrif under the Wali of Basra, were included in it. Various branches of the administration, however, were left under the control of Departments in Baghdad, e.g., Customs, Posts, Telegraphs, and Tribunals. This arrangement continues at the present time (1892). The Pashalik of Basra extends from Ali Gharbi on the Tigris and Kalat-ul-Daraj on the Euphrates to Bidaa in the Persian Gulf, a distance of about 600 miles. It is bounded on the east by Persia and the Persian Gulf, and on the west by the Nefud and Syrian deserts.

In 1880 a Russian Consul was appointed at Baghdad. From 1886, however, he was withdrawn, and from that time till 1889 Russian interests in the Wilayat were guarded by the French Consul. In May of that year the Russian Consulate was re-established, and it is still maintained (1892).

In 1880 it was ruled that Nedj or Central Arabia and its affairs should come within the cognizance of the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia instead of the Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire. In 1882 the designation of the British officer posted at Baghdad was changed by the Government of India from "Political Agent" to "Political Resident" in Turkish Arabia.

In 1880 the Turkish Government, in an official letter to the Wali of Baghdad, recognised Her Majesty's Consul at Basra as charged with the protection of Greek interests in that town, and in 1883 Her Majesty's Consul at Basra was similarly charged with German interests.

In 1886 the British Consular "desert post " which had been maintained since 1844 more particularly for the transmission of weekly despatches across the desert of Shamiya to Damascus, and thence by mail cart to the Mediterranean, was relinquished. It was formerly maintained by the Government of India for political reasons. Under the international postal system, the Ottoman Government started a dromedary post of their own over the same route.

In 1887 Her Majesty's Government withdrew the British Consulate at Mosal, and that province is now included in the sphere of action of the Resident in Turkish Arabia,

FAO.

Through the mediation of Great Britain and Russia the Turkish and Persian Governments mutually agreed in 1848 to abstain from placing fortified posts on either side of the Shatt-ul-Arab. Since 1886 however the Turks, despite remonstrance, have been engaged in erecting fortifications at Fao on the right bank of the river. The work has not been carried on without interruption, but it is said now (1892) to be nearly complete.

In March 1890 Commander Boldero of Her Majesty's Ship Sphinx, under instructions from the Commander-in-Chief on the East India Station, arrived off Fao with the object of visiting and reporting on the fort. He was accompanied by Her Majesty's S. S. Griffin and Redpole. On attempting however to land, Commander Boldero and his party were fired upon by the garrison and withdrew. For this outrage the commandant of the fort was condemned to six months' imprisonment and dismissal from his post, and Commander Boldero was eventually allowed by the Sultan's orders to carry out his visit to the fort. In connection with this incident the Porte was informed that Her Majesty's Government attached importance to the discontinuance of the fortifications at Fao.

No. I.

TRANSLATION of SOLEIMAN PASHA'S GENERAL FIRMAN.-1759.

To the Chief of the Siads, Zous, and Freeholders, our Aga, the Motusullim of Bussora, for the time being (whose state God increase), be it known unto you that my commands are as follows:-In the city of our great Sultan called Bussora, there is an English Balios, or chief of the merchants, etc., his nation being in peace with our high Porte whose grandeur God continue everlastingly; therefore, there are in his hands the high and respectable capitulations of our lofty Porte, to which all submission must be paid, and it behoves all men to obey the orders therein contained. Therefore, in the manner that it is commanded and ordered in said high capitulations, article by article, whether regarding the customs and all things relative thereto, or whether regarding other matters, or whether the respecting, favouring, assisting, and protecting the said English Balios and his effects agreeable to the said high capitulations, you must, as ordered by our great Sultan, in all things conform and pay obedience thereto, and you must not in any the least respect depart from, or act contrary to, said respected capitulations; and this our Booyooroldi or order I send you for this purpose. When it arrives you be it known unto you that it is by us directed that, conformable to the said high capitulations, which are the commands of our great Sultan, the English Balios you are to aid, assist, and protect, and in all other respects you are to pay obedience. thereto, and from the letter of the said high capitulations you must not in any respect depart, and agreeable to this our order or Booyooroldi you are commanded to act.

L. Signandi.
Mohurum

1173.

No. II.

LITERAL TRANSLATION of the IMPERIAL FIRMAN constituting ROBERT GARDEN, ESQ., CONSUL in BUSSORA, issued on the 27th day of the month SUFFER in the year of the HEGIRA 1178-A.D. 1764.

(Sd.) SAMUEL MANESTY,

Resident.

In these times the English Ambassador residing at our Court, Henry Nevile, Esq., has presented to us a formal memorial to the following effect

that the English Envoys at Aleppo, Alexandria, Tripoli in Syria, the Grecian Islands, Tunis, Tripoli in Barbary, Scio, Smyrna, and Egypt, and all the other considerable towns having scales or ports in our dominions, may have the power of appointing Consuls of their own nation; and, in the event of their choosing to change any of them and appoint others in their room, that no person may be permitted to interfere or to prevent such an arrangement. Now, be it known that former agreements have established this. Moreover, it appears that before the present period the East India Company had sent a person to Bussora, by name William Shaw, Esq., to represent them and superintend their affairs, who was not possessed of any Consulary Birat; but upon the expiration of his period of service and his removal, they appointed in his room the bearer of these royal letters, Robert Garden, Esq., who was also furnished with a Commission from the Company. Now, according to the tenor of former engagements as well as in compliance with the wishes of the Ambassador, it became proper and necessary to deliver the Birat in question into his hands. We have accordingly consigned to him our royal diploma.

According to what we have written, the aforesaid Robert Garden, Esq., is constituted British Consul, under the regulations to be here explained by us as well in regard to his latitude of action, as the conduct to be observed towards him.

1st. He is nominated and appointed Consul in Bussora.

2nd. He shall have full and sole power of taking cognizance of all affairs concerning those of the nation to which he belongs, such as captains of ships, merchants, and also all who may be under the protection of the English flag; all matters relating to the above are to be under his peculiar

care.

Without his express written order, no English vessel shall be permitted to come to Bussora.

The servants of the Consul shall not be subject to the poll tax or any other species of tax or tribute. Their butchers shall not pay any duty, and, in fine, the aforesaid description of persons must be protected from any kind of contribution.

In the event of their purchasing male and female slaves, they shall also be exempted from the above-mentioned duties.

No person shall interfere in respect to their furniture, their eatables or drinkables, for these have been privileges of old standing; such articles too shall be free from customs.

No person shall dare to imprison or put in fetters the Ambassador, the Consul, or their Agents, neither shall they seal up their houses; and should the Consuls where they reside have with them a military detachment, and wish to place them in separate houses, let none molest them for so doing.

We repeat that their male and female servants are to be exempted from taxes, as are their butchers from duties, all which exemptions are of old.

In the event of the Consul conceiving himself aggrieved, or any person having cause of complaint against him, we, in conformity to former agreements, hereby order that the matter shall be referred to our Court for decision, and that you shall not hear the discussion elsewhere.

Should the aforesaid Consul happen to travel, in whatever part he may choose to visit, either by sea or land, he, his suite, servants, cattle, and goods shall be sacred from any harm, and upon his return, should he, from not being provided with a stock of necessaries, wish to make requisite daily purchases on the road, let none refuse to supply him, or dare to engage in disputes with him.

In places where danger may be apprehended, they shall be permitted to wear the turban and the sword, to ride on horseback, to carry the bow, spear, and all the appurtenance of war, and whatever Cathies or others should see them so provided, they are not to molest them.

But should they exceed the bounds of these agreements, privileges and concessions, you are to check and prevent them, for such salutary restraint and observance of good order is necessary.

To all future times these regulations and instructions shall be valid, for we will not suffer the least infringement thereof, nor shall we sanction any

excess.

Birat or Consular Commission.

We, the Right Honourable Henry Grenville, Ambassador to His Majesty the King of Great Britain, at the Ottoman Porte, etc., etc.

To all whom these presents may concern greeting.

Having judged it very proper and necessary to grant this present for the service of the Honourable English United East India Company, as also for the better security and prosperity of their affairs in trade at Bussora, and also when in the Ottoman dominions, as also to secure and assure a protection to all persons in the respective Residencies of their Agents and Ministers, that from thenceforth there be established a Consul with ample and full power over all belonging to his charge to execute the above-mentioned.

Be it therefore known that we, by virtue of authority granted us by royal letters patent under the great Seal of Great Britain, and conformable to an Imperial Birat granted by the Emperor's Sublime Porte and the Sultan Mustafa, son of Sultan Ahmed, always victorious: By these presents we declare and acknowledge the illustrious Mr. Robert Garden, the present Agent of the said Honourable Company (or also their future Agents), and whoever be Agent in future and whoever be British Consul for transacting their affairs