'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' [‎81v] (164/226)

132 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
" We in consequence issued to our very illustrious Governor of Bagdad and Bns-
sorah, Ali Beza Pacha, an order to furnish our Sublime Porte with information of the
proposed navigation.
" Although the answer of the Pacha had not arrived, the Ambassador made repre
sentations on this point, informing our Sublime Porte the British Government awaited
our reply.
" For this reason we have and do permit two steam boats to navigate the
Euphrates by turns, and this navigation is to continue as long as, conformably to what
has been represented to us, it may prove useful to the two powers, and no inconve
nience result therefrom, and it is to this purpose that an official rule has been trans
mitted to the British Ambassador.
" A firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). , couched in the same terms, has been addressed to the Pacha of Bag
dad and Bussorah.
" These commands mean that you should act in the mode above-mentioned and for
this end the Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). is written.
" You, therefore. Vizirs, Mirimirans, Judges, and other Magistrates being informed
that you are to be in harmony with my Imperial will, you are to be cautious to act in
conformity thereto, and to be aware of contravening that which is prescribed by this
Imperial command."
291. With reference to the above firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). , the Pacha of Bag-dad, on
the 11th February 1835, issued the following " Booyooroldi" to the
Turkish officers on the Euphrates, directing them to afford their protec
tion to the expedition under Colonel Chesney, and to render all assist
ance in their power for the furtherance of its objects:—
" To those informed of this our address the Mutesellims, Zhabits of districts and
villages, and Shaikhs of tribes on both banks, the Arabian and Mesopotamian, of the
Euphrates from Oanah to Bussorah, be it known—
" That the cause of writing this " Booyooroldi" (order) is that, as at this
time, two steam vessels have arrived, appertaining to the English Government,
in which are persons bearing this our order, who are passing for the pur
poses of trade by permission of the Sublime Porte ; having also many letters, it is
incumbent on you to protect and favor them to assist in supplying their wants, and to
abstain wholly from impeding them. If, therefore, ye are certified of this, it is your
duty, on the arrival of the above-mentioned individuals at and on their passage by
your stations, to protect and defend, and that neither any one of you, or other, impede
them in any way, and should your aid be necessary to them, that you assist and serve
them in their wants, and unite, in forwarding them on their passage going and coming
in peace and safety, without excuse or delay.
" And for this purpose we have written, published, and forwarded this Booyooroldi
if it please God; when you receive it, and are informed of its contents, it will be requi
site that you use your utmost exertions in the accomplishment of them, and act accord
ing to the order, and thus it shall be suffice."
292. Colonel Chesney left England on the 10th February 1835,
with the several members and workmen composing the expedition under
his command, and arrived at "Port William" on the Euphrates on the
18th July following, when he commenced putting together the two iron
steamers Euphrates and Tigris, the materials for which had been for
warded by His Majesty^s Government via the Mediterranean. The comple
tion of both of these vessels, and their having commenced the survey of
the Euphrates and Tigris, was communicated by Colonel Chesney 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. in a letter dated the 19th March 1836,
from which the following is an extract:—
" Being quite sure that no event which concerns our Indian Empire, however remotely
can be indifferent to you as private individuals, whilst it is certain of attracting all the
attention it may deserve from you as a great governing body, I do myself the honor
of using the very earliest opportunity in my power to acquaint Your Hon'ble Court