'Precis Containing Information in regard to the First Connection of the Hon'ble East India Company with Turkish Arabia, as far as the Same Can Be Traced from the Records of the Bombay Government, together with the Names of the Several British Residents and Political Agents Who Have Been Stationed at Bagdad [Baghdad] and Bussorah [Basra] between A.D. 1646 and 1846, accompanied by Other Information' [‎46v] (94/226)

62 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OP E. I. COMPY.
had shown particular respect to the Agent in Council, and that the first
appearance of things was so flattering that if they had not been
acquainted with the Persian character they would have formed a most
pleasing opinion of their future prospects " under the Persian rule at
Bussorah/' The following extract from the above letter contains infor
mation in regard to the cause of the Turks having surrendered Bussorah
to the Persians and the terms on which the surrender was made:—
" Sadoo Caun keeps his men in much better order than could have been expected from
the rabble of which his army is mostly composed. The terms of the capitulation (which
the great distresses of the Turks and the little prospect of assistance from Bagdad
obliged him to sue for, and which Sadoo Caun granted) were that the inhabitants of
Bussorah should not be molested with respect to their persons and families, and Sadoo
Caun seems hitherto to have kept his word in this respect. No great severities have as
yet been used towards them, as the Persian soldiers however have taken the advantage
of supplying the town with provisions, and there is no trade going on, the former
poor inhabitants have no way of providing for the daily subsistence of themselves
and families, and feel almost as great distresses in this respect as during the siege;
they were obliged in that calamitous period to sell the few necessaries that belonged to
their houses or persons, and we fear that Sadoo Caun will not preserve his present
moderation when he finds the difficulty attending the collection of the large sums
ordered to be levied on the town; he has left this business to the principal men of the
Bussorah inhabitants, and they to ease themselves have put a greater proportion of the
amount on the poor than their circumstances are able to afford."
144. In a further letter dated the 26th September 1776, the Agent
in Council at Bussorah reported that Sadoo Caun (the Persian General)
had recently violated the privileges of the Hon'ble Company's factory An East India Company trading post.
by forcibly seizing some native merchants that had retired there for
protection. In consequence of this indignity, the Agent in Council come
to a Resolution again to withdraw the Hon'ble Company's factory An East India Company trading post. from
Bussorah to Bushire. This Resolution however was not carried into effect
in consequence of the Persian General having subsequently assured the
Agent in Council—
" that no further infringement should be made on their privileges. In the same letter
the Agent in Council observed as follows :—Situated as we are at present, we consider
ourselves as little better than prisoners, the Bussorah inhabitants regard our factory An East India Company trading post. as
some security to them, or at least as some check on the rapacity of the Persians. The
Persians on their side are sensible that it gives consequence to their Government,
that it encourages the inhabitants to stay here, and that if they keep the town they
may reap great advantages from our trade; it is not to be supposed therefore that they
will consent to our departure when we want to leave the place, and the policy of the
present Government leads them to use compulsion when they think it necessary
towards carrying the point they have in view. To endeavour to convince them that
force is incompatible with commerce, especially in regard to us, might have succeeded
formerly, but now would be as difficult as to endeavour to convince them of the
absurdity of their religion. We are still in the greatest uncertainty as to the intentions
of both Turks and Persians regarding this place. Advices from Bagdad dated about
thirty days ago mention that Abdoolla (the present Pacha) had received a large supply
of money from Constantinople and was making preparations for war, at the same time
it is said that caravans pass as usual between Schyras and Bagdad; and the Persians
here reported that a peace has been nearly concluded."
145. The following extract from a despatch addressed by the
Agent in Council at Bussorah to the Hon'ble the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. on
the 23rd February 1777 contains an account of further encroachments
having been made by the Persian authorities on the privileges of the
Hon'ble Company's factory An East India Company trading post. :—
" In our last respects of the 24th ultimo we informed you of some encroachments made
on our privileges here by the Persian Government, of our intentions of addressing the