The New York herald., 1870-02-10
THE PERSIAN GULF
The Euphrates Valley Route Be-
tween India and Europe.
A Coming Triumph of Steam and the
Progress of Civilization.
Pearls, Pearl Fishing, Slavery, Piracy
and Foreign Diplomacy.

BY the East India mail to England and thence by
steamship to New York we have the follow ing
special correspondence from Bushre, Persia, dated
on the 18th OF December 1862 The communication IL
ample and Its OF great interest and import
ance as anticpatory or the effects Of the influence
OF the agencies or steam and personal European
exploration in the regions bordering on the Cult
The New Route from India to Europe vim the
Euphraies valley--Steamers to Run UP the
Euphrafes Next April-Disturbed state Of the
Gsulf-"Meddiing and Mnddna'' Triunphs
Of British Diptomacy--Peari Fishing in the
Giuif-Thc Slave Trade--s;lavcs Imported
Slavery Among the lirnbs-Trnde of the
Gulf-increasing Export Of Opium.
BUsHIRE, Persia, Dec II, 1860.
There are few regions OF the wide earth about
which SO little is known as the Persian Cult. That
In the reign OF Nebachadnezzlr it was the highway
OF commerce between Assyria and India and the
Farther East; that under the good Haroun al Ras-
chld its waters were again traversed by peaceful
navies; that on the breakup OF The Mussuman
empire It's shores passed nominaiy under the
fag OF the Portuguese; and that since then II has
constantly been declining in prosperity, until 1t has
been abandoned by everybody except pirates, pearl
fishers aud sea snakes-this Is about the sum OF
formation generally possessed in regard to the
classic sea- on whose sho res your correspondent Is
now sojourang. But during the past Of years
the prospects OF the gull have steadily bright
ening and although 1t Is stili q sadly confused
and uDprosperous condition, another generation VIII
almost certainly witness revival or its ancient
splendor. For 1t clear nat the longtalked-of
Euphrates Railway, which Is 10 place IN liza within
two weeks or less OF London, ts soon TO become an
accomplished fact. The capital is now being sub
scribed. TIE Turkish government IS very irieldiy
to the PROJECT, ana the line between Aleppo and
Alexandretta is to be commenced Immediately.
And, pending the construction OF the railway from
Aleppo down the valley of the Euphrates to Ea9dad,
an attempt is to be made to run steamers up the
Euphrates TO within few miles OF the former city.
Such an attempt, tt Is true was made once before,
and mlserably failed, owing to the extreme shallow
ness OF the river steamship, indeed sticking SO
hard and fast obsllnatey obstructive sand bar
tnat 1t found impossible to get her OH, ana she
had to be broken up wnere she lay. This time, how
ever, the boats TO draw only couple OF feet Of
water, or even less aud 1t ~ hoped that they viii
get up and down without serious difficulty. The
nrst trip IS to be made next April. Already, as
most readers OF the HERALD are no doubt aware,
there are two steamship lines running up the Tlgrs
as far as Bagdad, OF which s maintained by the
Turkish government. while the other is in the hands
OF an English 'limited liability" corporation. In
future letters VIII give fun information to the
such items | have been able to gather Muscat.
Llnga Bunder Abbas ana Bushre as TO the
PRESENT STATE or TIE PERSIAN GULF.
For about century and hail. and until the close
OF the seventeenth century, the Portuguese held
nominal possession OF the entrance and the western
shore OF the gnlf together with the province OF
Oman which forms the southeastern corner of Ara
ba Muscot the chef port OF the latter district
and Ormuz. large city built on little island which
stands tn the gate OF the gulr, and which
mands 1t as completely as Gibraltar does the Meai-
Ierranean, were the man centres OF their power
and vast ruins of forts and palaces may be at
either place-the mute memorials OF their former
sway. But the Portuguese IN the guf as In Ceylon
aud India, were not much anxious for the growth
OF commerce as for the spread OF the holy Catholic
faith Many were the Mussuinan martyrs IA Muscat
and OrnuZ, who suffered death rather than ex-
change the Crescent Tor the Cross and a
ry consequence OF this intoerant policy the whole
gulf was q constant state OF revolt and when the
Portuguese at length expelled trade had al-
ready been ruined and the country plunged iuto
hopeless state OF anarchy. From that anarchy II Is
only now beginning to emerge
When the British power was firmly established in
India twas soon found necessary to interfere in
the affairs OF the gulf. There still commerce
frequently amounting to 900 annually, be-
tween India and the galf, the Arabs exchanging
pearls Tor rice and cotton fabrics The trading
sells engaged IN THIS traiic were exclusively native
craft. and were frequently attacked and plundered
by pirate Bungalows. To repress these lawless oot-
RACES and protect their Hindoo subjects the English
gunboats occasionally sent up the gulf 10
Infict u saiu!ary punishment upon the Buccaneers.
Until few years ago, when treaties were concluded
giving the British government exceptional powers,
the complete suppression Of piracy was, however,
impossible.
Abouta hundred years ago the Saeed family oh.
tanned absolute possession OF Oman and Muscat and
under their wise rule affairs in the gulf speedily i'm
proved. The Sultan Of Oman maintained q consid-
cradle neet, numbering at one time no less than
thirty frgates and as trading vessels coming to or
going from Muscat were furnished with conveys the
latter seaport became the centre OF trade. Treaties
concluded with Great Britain, the United states
and France, granting the citizens of those countries
the privilege or what was almost free trade with
Oman, imports and exports being subjected only TO
II duty Of live per cent dd rolorell. France never
ayaed herself Of thus concession, ana Great
Britain only traded through Hmdoo merchants; but
American vessels transacted \ regular commerce
with Muscat. When Syud Saeed dled tWeatY years
ago. this latter trade brought live orsx Boston vessels
every year to Muscat, VINO exchanged cotton goods
Tor dates Only lew years ago. liisL u before lhe
fabrics were thus annually sold TO Oman. Now,
although half a dozen American SHIPS year sun
come to Muscat to load dates, they are unable TO
dispose OF single bale. This result is not owing TO
the increased price OF such goods nor to British CON-
peution but to the decline OF Muscat in consequence
Of the outrageous intermeddling OF Great Britain
with Its internal AFFAIRS. British interference with
Oman and the gulf, which until a few years
ago was To certain extent Sautary, and was at
any rate harmless has lately assumed u form which
is disastrous TO those upon whom lG Is exercised as
well as to ali who trade with them
To make the position or affairs here fnteg blc 1t
fs necessary TO give some account OF the peope who
occupy the shores OF the gull. Oman, though only
small part OF it's territory is actually In the gulf Is
closely connected with II IN interest, and may for
all practical purposes. be reckoned as belonging
It. Oman holds the entrance. Persia the entire east
ern shore and Turkey the head OF the gulf On the
western shore the space between Oman and the
Turkish country comprising coast line OF about
600 miles IN extent, together with the large island or
BahIen, is with the exception Of few miles held
by the Wahabee Ameer Of ifaIh) IN the possession
OF number OF independent Arab tribes. These lat
ter, owing 70 the extreme poverty or the SOIL on
which they dwell are unaoc to wiring from even
bare livelihood and are almost whole dependent
upon the nearl fishery for their supsistence.