'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' [‎104r] (211/226)

[ xxxix ]
take charg-e of the revenue departments and replace those now in office,
who, iu addition to their other disqualihcations, are strangers for the most
part to Bagdad and unacquainted with the nature and forms of business
here.
With such a set of officers under a suitable system of checks it is
not too much to say that the revenues derived from the town itself would
instantly be more than doubled, and a similar arrangement at Bussorah
would produce like results.
Another salutary consequence of such a change of officers would be
the power of doing away at once with the iniquitous system of Tumleek
payment of salaries, and thereby throwing into the hands of Govern
ment a vast additional mass of lands and villages which under suitable
guarantee would let for at least three times their present estimated
value: all salaries and allowances should be paid in cash.
The next measures to be adopted would naturally be those for en
couraging agriculture and the re-occupation of abandoned villages, were it
made publicly known that all persons desirous of renting lands should
apply directly to Government, and not through subordinate officers; that no
presents should either be demanded or received; and that the rent agreed
upon should positively cover all demands upon the farmer, while he in
his turn should be forced, not only to fulfill his engagements with
Government, but to deal justly with his Fellahs Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. ; and were the good faith
of this proelamation confirmed by a year's experience, it is difficult to
calculate the increase which would accrue to the revenue in probably two
years. The returns of the villages already in operation would be enor
mously augmented, while Fellahs Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. , now unemployed, and the cultivating
Arabs would press in crowds to take possession of those that are at
present abandoned in despair at the exactions to which their late inhabi
tants were exposed.
Such an arrangement would, however, necessarily involve, not only a
promise of, but actual and efficient protection to, the cultivators from
plunder and robbery by the incursions of predatory tribes; nor
would this be a measure so difficult of accomplishment as the actual state
of the Pachalic might lead us to imagine. A certain number of effective,
trustworthy, and disposable troops would undoubtedly be requisite, but
it is not too much to say that were all that are now borne on the duftur
of the Pachalic actually present and rendered effective by proper disci
pline and active and experienced officers, they would be nearly, if not
quite, equal to all emergencies. The forces of Daood Pacha, those at
least in regular pay, and which proved sufficient for such purposes, did
not exceed 3,000 cavalry and perhaps 5,000 infantry with a fair detail
of artillery. But doubtless at first, and until the troops of the Govern
ment should have been reduced to proper discipline and have gained that
self-confidence which is requisite to render any troops effieient, it would
be desirable to support the power of the authorities by the presence of a
well organized force of a few thousand men supplied with all the requi
sites of war. These would keep the Arabs in check, and the Fellahs Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour.
themselves gaining confidence from this support would soon learn to turn
out in defence of their property.
Once warned of the consequences of unlawful practices, and checked,
if needful, by a sharp example, the Arabs would become sensible of their