Page 289 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND THE MA8KAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908. 103

CIIAPTEH X.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE KOWEIT POLITICAL
AGENCY EOR THE YEAR 1907-1908.
Nejd Affairs.
During the first-half of the year under report, continuous contradictory
rtunours were received of fighting between the two powers of Central Arabia.
Bin Reshid appears to have been at, tho zenith of his power about September*
when he entered Boraida with the support of the townspeople and the powerful
Unit air tribe. The latter, headed by their Sheikh Faisal, were smarting
under losses sustained by them in a fight with Bin Sa’ud’s levies that took
place in April under the walls of Majma’, in which town they took refuge.
A messenger from Sheikh Mubarak, Abdu Aziz A1 Hassan, was sent from
Koweit in September ostensibly to make peace between the two parties.
It would appear, however, that he lulled the suspicions of Sultan-bin-Rasbid,
detached the Umtair and then called up Bin Sa’ud to fight. The final result
of the operations round Boraida was the decline of Sultan’s power and the
ruler of Riadh is now in undisturbed possession. News during the last part
of the year has been meagro and Central Arabia appears to have been
enjoying a period of comparative tranquillity.
The despatch of Abdul Aziz A1 Hassan and the general trend of events
have given rise to the assumption—by no means unwarranted—that the distur­
bances of this year were skilfully engineered by Sheikh Mubarak. He wished
to show the ruler of Riadh that he could not afford to stand independent
of Koweit support and yet, at the critical moment, when Bin Sa’ud was
seriously threatened, Sheikh Mubarak threw his Weight into the opposite
scale and has, for tiio time being, completely destroyed the power of the Bin
Rashid family, who, he probably fully realises, are irreconoileuble enemies.
TribaJi Politics.
Thaffir.—News was received in the close of April of the death of
Ja’ilan-bin-Swait, who was succeeded by his young son, Mohamed-bin-Ja’ilan.
His unole, Hamud, is said to manage the ribal atfairs.
Ajman.—Muhammad-bin-Hithlain was released in May, as full repara­
tion had been made for tho depredations committed by the tribe against
the Koweit Bedouins. This man now appears to have had his position as
Bheikh of the Ajman acknowleged by the Turkish authorties at El Hasa.
Umtair.—This tribe has been much in evidence during the year and
mention has already been made of them under Nejd Affairs,
There wa9 trouble betwcon them and the Bani Tbwaiby, a branch of the
Thaffir, who are on specially friendly relations with Koweit and Sheikh
Mubarak, called on the Umtair to restore the property they had raided.
Ab a punishment for not doing so and also, no doubt, for the pro­
minent part he took against Abdul Aziz-bin-Sa*ud at Boraida, Faisul ad
Dowish, the Sheikh of the Elwa Umtair, was imprisoned by Shoikh Mubarak
all the last half of November. He was not released until the fine decreed by
Sheikh Mubarak had been collected.
Other raids of lesser importance were reported, but everything goes to
show that the Sheikh of Kowoit still retains undoubted authority over the
neighbouring Bedouin tribes.
Navy.
About the middle of April, His Exoellenoy Commodore Sir George
Warrender, Bart, O. B., M. V.* O., visited Koweit. He was accom­
panied by the Resident, Persian Gulf. On arrival, the Political Agent, accom­
panied by Sheikh Jabir in the absence of hi9 father, went to welcome His
Excellency on- board the H. M. S. Hyacinth. Sheikh Jabir on leaving the
■hip received a salute of 5 guns. In the evening His Excellency the