'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' [‎45v] (92/226)

4
60 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
depend to give him the earliest intelligence of Curim Caun's designs. With respect to
the part that the English intended pursuing, the Agent informed the Mussaleem During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. 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 hoard the two cruizers now here, first shipping
otf the Hon'hle Company's and other English effects, for which purpose solely the
cruizers were kept here."
139. Before daylight on the morning of the 9th April 1775, a
portion of the Persian army which for several days had been in the
vicinity of Bussorah made an attack on that place, but was repulsed with
loss. Considering it however probable that reinforcements from the
Persian Camp would be sent for the purpose of capturing Bussorah the
Agent in Council retired on board the Eagle, one of the Company's
vessels then in the river, and subsequently, under the circumstances stated
in the following extract from a letter which they addressed to the
Bombay Government on the 22nd of the same month (April 1775), they
proceeded to the Bushire roads where they anchored,—
" The sudden departure of this boat for Muscat affords us only time to inform
you that Bussorah was invested by the Persian Army under the 7th instant, and that
under the 11th the Persian fleet consisting of near sixty sail, among which were
twenty-two large galivats and dows, having approached Bussorah with intent as it
evidently appeared to join the Chaub's which was above us. We judged it the most ad
visable measure to endeavour at a junction with the expected vessels from Bombay.
Letters from Mr. Beaumont, received under the above date, advised us of four being
hourly expected at Bushire, and we thought that their being able to make their way
good to us through such a fleet as was between us and the bar was impracticable. We
therefore under the 11th left Bussorah, and in our passage down the river were attacked
by the greatest part of the Persian fleet under the command of Shaik Nassir, who at
first made an appearance of waiting for us, but finding us continue to stand on, he made
the best of his way to the Hulfar, into which he retreated, and the depth of water would
not permit us to pursue him as the galivats had the advantage of our s and would not
permit us to approach them nearer than random shot. We suffered no damage in the
action, and we believe their loss, if any, must have been very inconsiderable. The Persian
fleet began their attack upon us at half-past two in the afternoon, and did not leave ()1
firing until seven; their scheme appears to us to have been to have got our ships
between them and the Chaub's fleet, and then by every means in their power have
prevented our proceeding down the river. Shaik Nassir, however, writes to Bushire
that our vessels attacked him first, and that three of our shot went through his galivat
that he notwithstanding will continue a friend to the English and do them every service
in their power."
140. In a further despatch to the Hon'ble Court, dated the 30th
April 1775, the Agent in Council communicated the following addi-
tional particulars in regard to the attack on Bussorah :—
*' In our last we omitted to inform you of some occurrences which took
place at Bussorah before we left it. Under the 8th instant, sixteen galivats and boats
appearing off the north end of Chellaby's island, Lieutenants Robinson and Thistleson
wrote us requesting to know whether they should not weigh and stand down to attack
them whilst it was daylight, and before they could be joined by the Chaub's fleet,^ and
as we left it to them either to do so, or to wait for them at anchor, as they might judge
proper, they weighed and stood down, but the galivats on their approach retired, and
the ships returned to their station off the town. At about 2 o'clock the next morning
the Persians made a desperate attack to scale the walls between the Zebene and Bagdad
gates ; some of them had even got on the wall, but through the bravery of the Arabs
under the command of Shaik Tamar of the Montiflcks were repulsed with great loss.
On this attack we went on board the Eagle, the Persian army then advanced very near
the town, and several skirmishes took peace but entirely to the disadvantage of tha
Persians. Under the 10th at night the bridge cf boats which we had thrown across the
river was attacked, and one of the boats burnt, and under the 11th we quitted the place
as advised you in our last respects just after we left it; we saw another boat of the
bridge on fire. Since writing the foregoing the Agent has received a letter from Bussorah
•r