Turkish Arabia Affairs [‎643v] (12/20)

Despatches from Colonel Herbert to H. M.’s Ambassador at the Porte.
Prom Kerbnlla I have received a report of a disturbance having occurred
on the 14th ultimo, between the Persian shop-keepers in a street called the
Bazar-i-haraj, and the police (Zabtiyeh).
It appears that two policemen (Zabtiyehs) went in the usual manner into
the bazar to collect the yearly shop-tax called “ Asnafiyeh ” and that on their
demanding payment from the Persians these refused to pay except with the
permission of Mirza Jewad Khan, the Persian Consul in that town.
The Zabtiyehs urged that this tax was levied under established Municipal
regulation in which the intervention of the Consul was not called for; and
that they had collected it from all others.
An altercation ensued and eventually the Persians assaulted the two Zah-
tiyehs, who fled from the bazar to the Serai where they reported what had taken
place.
The Tabor Aghasi (Police Commissioner) and the Euzbashi (Captain) of
Gendarmerie immediately proceeded with a party of police to the bazar for the
purpose of arresting the assailants and taking them to the Serai, but the Persians
resisted and a riot ensued, in which four Persians were wounded and the police
severely beaten.
At length seven of the rioters were arrested and conveyed to the Serai.
Mirza Jewad Khan immediately presented himself to Muzher Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the
Lieutenant-Governor, and offered his own security for these men, promising that
if they were given up to him, he would produce them at such time as should be
fixed for an investigation into the circumstances of the disturbance, and Muzher
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. accordingly made them over to him, requesting him to send them to the
Court with his interpreter the following day.
The next day the Lieutenant-Governor summoned the men to attend the
Court, but the Consul refused to produce them.
Muzher Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. having expressed his astonishment at this refusal and pointed
out that the Consul had himself become security and given his promise to
produce them, waited three or four days during which the men were not sent to
appear in Court, and then represented the matter to the Governor-General,
Midhut Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , by telegram.
He received a reply, directing him to place policemen round the house of
the Consul with orders to arrest the men whenever they should come out.
On receipt of these orders Muzher Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. communicated them to Mirza
Jewad Khan and then the men were given up by the latter.
On the 3rd instant, the Governor-General sent Haji Agha, Mufutish,
together with an employe of the Persian Consulate General of Bagdad, to
superintend the enquiry into this matter.
The investigation has been delayed in consequence of the temporary absence
on duty of Muzher Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and the Tabor Aghasi.
Purther, the Persian Consular Agent at Museyeb has been arrested by the
Kaimakam of that place and sent in to Kerbulla on the charge of having robbed
the property which was in a tomb in that neighbourhood known by the name of
Tiflan-i-muslin.
Early in this month news reached this of two piracies accompanied by
murder having been committed in the Shatt-Ool-Arab on native craft, in both
of which instances the robbers are said to have taken refuge in the Mohumrak
territory.
Some trouble seems to be preparing near Mendeli. The Persian Consul-
General alludes somewhat mysteriously to an alleged aggression on the part ol
the people of that neighbourhood who, he says, have crossed the frontier and cut
down a large number of valuable trees belonging to the Persians, adding tiia
nothing has been said about this, but that Hoosein Kooli Khan, Governor ol
Louristan, is preparing measures of reprisal.
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