The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1877-10-10

The Pasha Of Bagdad is the despotic ruler
Of the largest and most important province In
Turkey. He has the command Of large army
which is stationed at Bsgdad and other towns
within his pashalic, which is bounded on the
cas-, and south BY the Persian frontier and the
Gulf. More than once, ambitious men holding
this position, 50 remote from the home Govern
ment, have been suspected Of designs TO rem
der themselves independent sovereigns--a de-
sign which was successfully accomplished IN
1880. by Mohammed Ali, Pasha Of Egypt. AT
the time Of my visit to Bagdad. the Governor
was the present Turkish Minister OF War, Re-
diff Pasha, a successful General and man of
unqaesiionsd energy and ability. Once while
l was in BSgdad, he had an opportunity to
show his power as despotic ruler, and he act
ed with nerve and energy worthy of all praise.
The Tgris, which had been on the rampage
for two months, at last broke through the dikes
some ten miles above the city, and the torrent
sweeping down with irresistible force, did
great damage TO the crops, and in single day
turned the broad plain back Of the city into an
immense lake. The water was only kept from
flowing into the city by an embankment out
side the walls, which in many places was out
of repair. Great fear was felt of such an in-
unaation as occurred IN lS3l-the year of the
plague-when seven thousand houses fell in q
single day. Here was an emergency calling
for prompt action. The Pasha issued an order
closing all the baIaars and shops, and for four
days impressed the whole male population
foreigners exeepted) to work on the dikes.
Half the force was sent up the river, and the
balance set TO work to repair the enlbankments
around the city. l rode ont in that direction
one morning, and witnessed lively scene.
Several thousand men were at work, and The
Pasha himslf was on the spot, surrounded by
a brilliantly uniformed staff, experimenting
the operations. These energetic measures
saved the city. The break in the dyke up the
river was stopped, and the water gradually
subsidized.
As there are no American Ministers or Con-
sulsr Agents in this part of the world, before
leaving Cairo l had inclosed letter of intro
duction TO our Minister 1t Constantinople, with
the request that he would forwad to me al Bag
dad such credentials to the Pasha as might be
of service in any excursion / desired to make
to Babylon or other places Of interest in Meso
potamia- Upon reaching Bagdad l found
awaiting me hrmsn from the Turkish Govern
msnt addressed TO the Pasha. and commencing
the American traveller in the strongest terms
TO his hospitality aud protection. pom my
entrance 10 the audience room OF the Pasha l
found him seated ar the further end of the
apartment, near a large table covered with pa
psrs, and as enterei he rose and advanced to-
ward me, shook hands, and cautiously mo-
toned me to q seat beside him. He is large
man, tall and quite porly, perhaps forty-fve
years old, with full face, brown beard and
eyes sharp and piercing, his dress WAS entirely
European, except the fsz, without even 4 but
ton to indicate his rank. His countenance in
dicates energy and frmuess, and his manners
are courteous and pleasing. Several officers
OF rank standing near were presented 10 me,
but no one was seated except the Pasha and
myself. As he spoke only Turkish and Ara
bic, Mr.. Stanno, 4 Leyantine in the service of
the Government, was summoned to act as in
terpreter. Our conversation was necessarily
slow, but the questions and replies were very
readily translated, and felt quite, at my ease.
found the Pashs very intelligent as to the
geography and government of foreign eoun-
Iries, and he seemed fully to comprehend that
England and America were two distinct and
separate countries. He offered me every faci-
lily for seeing Bagdad, and said that, as was
the only American who had ever visited him,
he hoped l would receive favorable impress
sion OF the eoantry.-lScribuerf for September.