[10] Jackson mentions in 1797 one of his ships, which carried upwards of a thousand men.—Journey, p. 8.
[11] Probably the ruins of Reshire.
[12] Niebuhr, who allots a separate chapter to these Arab powers (“etats independans aux environs du Golfe Persique”) attracts our attention to their fate principally by the remark, “En un mot, le gouvernement et les mœurs de ces Arabes ressemblent beaucoup a ceux des anciens Grecs.” But he adds, “mais ils manquent d’historiens pour decrire leurs guerres et pour celebrer leurs héros: voila pourquoi ils ne sont pas connus hors de leur pays.” Description de l’Arabie, p. 270.
[13] The event is related by Olivier. Voyage, tom. vi. p. 215.
[14] Extract from a translation of the History of the Zund Family, from the death of Kerim Khan to the accession of Aga Mahomed Khan Kadjar by Ali Reza Ibn Abdul Kerim of Shiraz.
[15] “Consisting of the Arab tribes of Dumoag, Beenee Hajir, Hyat Daaod, and others.”
[16] Hanway limits the functions; “the officer who makes seizures,” vol. ii. p. 372: see also Abdul Kurreem, p. 14. Both authorities connect rank and importance to the situation. In the East, indeed, the duties even of an executioner appear to have been held in very different estimation from that which is attached to them in Europe. “Les Bourreaux en Georgie,” says Tournefort, “sont fort riches, et les gens de qualité y exercent cette charge; bien loin qu’elle soit reputée infame, comme dans tout le reste du monde, c’est un titre glorieux en ce pays-là pour les familles. On s’y vante d’avoir eû plusieurs bourreaux parmi ses ancestres, et ils se fondent sur le principe qu’il n’y a rien de si beau que d’executer la justice, sans laquelle on ne sçauroit vivre en seûreté. Voilá une maxime bien digne des Georgiens.” Tom. II. 311. “Arioch, the Captain of the King’s Guard,” (of Babylon, Dan. II. 14.) is yet stiled by the Chaldee in the margin, “Chief of the Executioners or Slaughter-men.”
[17] “Jooyum is the district where the Tobacco grows, and it is understood that the trade there is managed by its proprietor dextrously and profitably.”
[18] “The Sheik, indeed, had given cause of complaint to Brigadier-General Malcolm before the arrival of His Majesty’s Mission.”
[19] “He was originally a Moonshee, who got his bread by transcribing books and writing letters for money. He taught Sir Harford Jones, when a young man at Bussora, to read and write Arabic and Persian. He afterwards became a merchant, selling small articles in the Bazar at Bushire, and being fortunate in his early trade, extended his speculations still more largely and successfully: till, when an embassy to Calcutta was projected by the King of Persia, he was enabled to appear (according to the report of his countrymen) as the highest bidder for the office, and was consequently invested with it. Having enriched himself enormously by his mission, he has yet never failed to complain before the King, of the evil stars which, by leading him to accept such a situation, had reduced him to beggary.”