Page 61 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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(f.) Turkey and Koweit.
Turkey.
Ujair, in the district of El Katif, is the most-
southerly point to which, with the important
exception of Koweit, llis Majesty’s Government
have recognized continuous Turkish influence.
This influence was confirmed by the expedition
to Ncjd in 1871, with the result that the Turks
have remained established at El Katif and in the
El Hasa district ever since.
The administration is disorderly and, owing
to the half-hearted co-operation of the local
authorities, British naval officers have been
repeatedly thwarted in their attempts to capture
pirates, with whom this district is a favourite
resort.
The Arabian coast north of Katif, all the way
to Koweit Bay, is without a single large settle­
ment. Mostly barren and in the hands of the
predatory and warlike tribe of Bni Hnjar, it is
very uninteresting and entirely unproductive.
North of Koweit, Turkish territory extends to
the western shore of the Island of El Khizo,
and includes Eao, where there is a British
telegraph office, on the River Shat-el-Arab.
Much correspondence took place between 1887
and 1897 respecting the creation of fortified
works at Eao, and Her Majesty’s Government
energetically opposed these works. A full state­
ment on the subject is contained in an India
Office Memorandum dated the 21st June, 1897.
Foreign Office, Captnin Smyth, who was sent on a special
Library No. 8799,
Confidential. mission to tho Persian Gulf in 1904, reported as
follows:—

“ Eao is not a fort in auy sense of tho word ;
there are no fortifications and no guns.”

Piracy on the Shat-el-Arab has formed a con­
tinual source of anxiety to tho British authorities
oharged with the security of life and property
on the Persian Gulf.

Koweit.

Colonel Pelly’e The family of tho present Sheikh have ruled
K«|>ort of April at Koweit for above 300 years. Originally the
1863.
Sheikh’s progenitors dwelt in a small fort, called
Moomgussur, situated at the head of the Khor