Page 294 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

110 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TIIE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

Government than tie was to any other power. There is now, however, no room
for doubt and, though it would be idle to pretend that friction never occurs,
harmonious rolations have been the rule and the signs of increased oonfidonco
and a desire to please, are evident in every direction. Nor is this improvement
confined to the Sheikh only. The prestige of tho Agency has undoubtedly
increased and it would not ho too much to say that tho Agency is now
rogarded with approval by almost all classes of tho population. Service of ono
kind and another is eagerly sought after, petty street insults no longer occur
and tho name of “quarantine” no longer calls down curses on the British
representative and his staff.
It is interesting to noto that tho Sheikh has taken into his employ an
Englishman, Mr. Henry Kemp, who is the engineer of tho Sheikh’s yacht
IIo is a quiet unassuming man who seldom moves out of his ship but ho seems
to suit Sheikh Mubarak thoroughly well.
The Sheikh has also during the year imported a motor car of French
manufacture from Bombay. An Indian chaufTeur (Musalman) was engaged on a
three months’ agreement. .After the expiry of ihe agreement the chauffeur was
allowed to return to India. The motor car is now looked after and driven by
one of tho men in the Sheikh’s employ, his coachman Ali, who has something
of a turn for mechanics.

Public Buildings.
During the year under report, Sheikh Mubarak has built a very finer
suite of reception rooms in front of his old house. They arc on the top of the
old stables. The rooms are well furnished in ^wasi-European style.
The Sheikh has also changed his flagstaff. Tho new staff is on higher
ground and very much higher than the old one. It tops everything in the
town except the Agency flagstaff.

Foreigners.
The visits of Messrs. Elbaz and Vram have been already noted under
“ Arms Trade. ” Their movoraonts were watched during the time they remained
in Koweit.
A Mr. G. Guays of English parentage, a convert to Islam, arrived in
Koweit about tho middle of June and wished to travel in Central Arabia. He
was, however, advised by the Political Agent not to do so os it was risky and
dangerous to travel in those parts. He disguised himself as a Turk and called
himself Abdulla. He remained in Koweit for some time and at last seeing
that he could not carry out his intentions finally left for Bombay by a British
India steamer. He was formerly in the employ of that Company and his
present profession is that of a mining engineer.
Butirbin-Rashid of the Sheikhs of Dubai arrived in March and was the
Sheikh of Koweit’s guest during the time he remained in Koweit. He visited
Sheikh Kbazal of Muhammerah with Sheikh Mubarak and returned to Dubai
via Koweit and Maskat. While in Koweit, Buti-bin-Basbid paid a visit to
the Political Agent, which was duly returned.

Quarantine.
Owing to the outbreak of plague in Bahrein islands, quarantine was
imposed by the Sheikh on ali steam and sailing vessels arriving from that port
until the end of July when Bahrein was declared a free port. The services
of the Assistant Surgeon were placed at the disposal of tho Sheikh for
quarantine duty. Quarantine restrictions are only imposed now on pas­
sengers arriving by fast mails of the British India Company from Karachi.
While it would be premature to suppose that quarantine is regarded with
favour in Koweit, the bitter prejudice, excited by its very name in tho. begin­
ning, is now much less in evidence and the Sheikh’s officials co-operato much
more readily than they used to. Much, however, remains to be done before
quarantine can he pronounced satisfactory.