THE TRADE OF BAGHDAD. 81 



couragement should naturally be looked for. Railways 

 there are none, if I except the short tramway which 

 runs a few miles to the Mosque of Kazimin, and which 

 I believe is a great success financially ; and the number 

 of steamers which ply between Baghdad and Basra is 

 limited to four, two of which may generally be counted 

 on as being hors de combat, since they are run by a 

 Turkish firm. 



Enterprise is likely to meet with a sharp rebuke, as 

 instanced by the fate of the Pasha who, a short time 

 ago, built an excellent bridge which spans the river at 

 the present time. Great were the preparations for the 

 opening of this work of public benefit. The crowds 

 assembled, and expectation ran high ; but, alas ! no 

 governor appeared to perform the opening ceremony. 

 It was a great pity, but it was inevitable. The broad- 

 minded governor had been mentioned by the mullah 

 in public prayer as a benefactor to his country, and his 

 fame had reached the ears of the Sublime Porte. His 

 immediate recall was the result. The Sultan can brook 

 no interference in his monopoly of the deity ! 



The trade of Baghdad in 1902 amounted to 

 £2,560,232, divided as follows : Exports, £575,253, 

 and imports, £1,984,979. This trade might be greatly 

 increased even at the present time by so simple a pro- 

 cedure as insisting upon the Porte removing the absurd 

 limitation of two steamers a-week, which is all that 

 is allowed to Messrs Lynch. It seems a most extra- 

 ordinary thing that we should be powerless to effect so 

 necessary a step. Not very long ago permission was 

 obtained by Messrs Lynch to draw a barge along with 

 their steamers, but this was regarded as a great diplo- 

 matic triumph ! The result, as pointed out by Major 

 Newmarch, acting British Consul-General, is that the 

 delay in Basra, more especially since there is a want of 



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