Page 178 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

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ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TIIE PERSIAN GULF

CHAPTER X.—ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE KOWEIT
POLI-
T1CAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 190G-1907.

NEJD AFFAIRS.
The year opened with a hollow truce concluded between Abdul Aziz bin Sa’ud
and Abdul Aziz bin Rashid.
Almost immediately followed the news of the death of the latter chieftain, who
during the month of April, was surprised by Bin Sa’ud at night during a dust-
storm and slain with many of his followers.
Similar rumours culminated in a final report that peace between the two par­
ties had been proclaimed at Riadh, but Abdul Aziz bin Jalooi, a member of the
Sa ud family, was killed by Bin *Ijal, Shammari, while ho was on his way to
announce the news in Koweit.
In the middle of August, Farik Sadik Pasha, with 300 Turkish soldiers, pasa-
ed through Koweit on his way back to Irak.
About the 22nd of December, another large force of Turkish soldiers (800 men)
passed the Political Agent’s camp at War a, near Koweit. This force represented
the remains of the Turkish expedition to Nejd, as only a handful of men were left
in Anaiza and Boraida.
During January came the news of the murder of Meta’ab Bin Abdul Aziz Bin
Rashid, his brother, Misha’al, and his cousin, Tallal. These acts were all commit­
ted by the order of Sultan Bin Hamud Bin Rashid, who made himself Amir.
Sultan Bin Hamud is a man of about 40 years of age, and it has yet to be seen
what figure he will cut in the politics of Central Arabia. As this report is being
penned news arrives that he is gathering head in great force and that Bin Sa’ud
cannot oppose him in the open field. The partizans of Bin Sa’ud, while they
admit that the general position is as reported, declare that Bin Sa’ud will prevail in
the end, for Bin Rashid’s force is composed almost entirely of Bedouins, who will
melt away, like snow, as the hot weather approaches. Hail cannot feed them, and
Irak, whence the Shammar mostly draw their supplies, is 15 days away for
caravans.
TRIBAL POLITICS.
Sultan ud Dowish, the Shaikh of the ’Elwa Umtair, died this year, and was
succeeded by his son Faisal. Towards the end of February some Ajman raiders
took away 20 herds of the Araibdar, ».e., the Arabs living in the desert immediately
surrounding, and dependent on, Koweit town. Shaikh Mobarak at once took
steps*to revenge the outrage, and the Ajman would have been attacked by a
ghazu in force, had they not submitted, promised restitution and surrendered one
of their principal Shaikhs, Muhammad Bin Hithlain, who is now imprisoned by
Shaikh Mobarak in Koweit.

NAVY.
In April His Excellency Sir Edmund Poe, K.C.V.O., Commander-in-Chief,
East Indies Squadron, visited the port. He was accompanied by the Politic
Resident in the Persian Gulf. Shaikh Mobarak had come to the town on pu^jose
receive His Excellency, but, on the morning of His Excellency’s arrival, the bhai »
after writing a letter of apology and explanation, left for Jahra, taking with him
son Fahad in a dying condition. In the absence of his father, Shaikh Jabir p«'
a visit to His Excellency and was received with the honours usually accorded to
father. The visit was returned the same day by the Officer Commanding ri.
Hermes.