Page 485 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1909. 75

Prom the latest information it would appear that all parties in Nejd
are husbanding their resources and taking advantage of the present good sea­
son, the first for two years, to get their riding cattle, the Bedouin’s real source
of power, into good condition. Beyond this, efforts are continually made to
attract the fickle Bedouin tribes to one side or the other by promises of reward,
loot or protection from aggression, and the like.
Raids and counter-raids by small sections of various tribes have been
rather frequent owing to famine, and it
Tribal Politics.
is noteworthy that probably for the
first time during Sbaikh Mobarak’s rule Kuwait camels have been raided from
so close as within *5 miles of the town.
In January it was reported that Bin Saud had summoned Muhammad,
bin-Hithlain, Shaikh of the Ajman, to join him in a raid against the Sham-
I mar. The latter refused, saying he could not leave his own country. Ap­
parently this young and powerful Chief has begun in his ambition to regard
Hofuf, Katif, and Hasa as his own property.
Of the Agency escort camels raided in December 1908, 4 were recovered
between January and March. For the remaining 13, Shaikh Mobarak sent
two of his men with letters to Ibn Rashid and other Shaikhs. The men
returned in July with 10 camels, only 3 being of those originally looted and
the remaining 7 having been brought in exchange. The Shaikh regretted
that his endeavours had ended so disappointingly but .as there was no hope
of any better result, the substitutes were accepted and the incident closed.
In the beginning of August two of the Agency camels were taken by mis­
take in a raid by the A1 Mala’aba section of the Umtair near Ar-Rakhaimiya.
These were subsequently recognised and recovered through Haif-ibn-Bada’-al-
Fugam, Shaikh of the As Sabah section, who has frequently visited the
Agency.
The powerful Ajman tribe has been prominent in tribal politics during
the year. In September they raided successfully as many as 800 camels
belonging to the Awazim and the Kuwait Araibdar whilst grazing in the vici­
nity of Jahra. Shaikh Mobarak was much incensed at a raid so close to his
capital and demanded restitution within two months, threatening severe
reprisals. It is believed that some have been returned to the Awazim, but
that 620 are still due. A raid was also attempted soon after, probably by the
same party, on Shaikh Mobarak’s own camels at As Safa. The Ajman also
looted a Nejd caravan, returning with provisions from Kuwait, at Ud Dhana.
In August or September Muhammad-bin-Hithlain, the Shaikh of the Ajman,
was captured by the Turkish.aulhorities at Hasa and imprisoned until $1,000
were paid by his tribe for his release. He was ill-advised enough to enter
Hasa with a following of only 7 men, and so gave the Turks their opportunity.
Owing to the frequency and daring of the Ajman raids Shaikh Mobarak,
in December, sent out a party headed by Shaikh Ali-bin-Khalifa, his grand­
nephew, to patrol the desert and keep the Ajman beyond Kuwait environs.
This patrol party heard that Saud-bin-Lami, Shaikh of the Jiblan, in whose
punishment for looting certain of his men near Hasa Bin Saud had asked
Shaikh Mobarak’s assistance, was camping on the further side of the Hafar
wells. Knowing Saud-bin-Lami to be “ wanted,” Ali-bin-Khalifa endeavour­
ed to entrap him but Saud evidently smelt a rat and, returning an impertinent
reply, made off. Ali-bin-Khalifa after several fruitless efforts eventually suc­
ceeded in rounding him up at A1 Amlah near Samawah. Saud-bin-Lami just
succeeded in escaping with only two of his slaves, his son, Safah, being wound­
ed, his wife and the whole of his camp and animals falling into Ali-bin-
Khalifa’s hands.
The above incident is of interest as showing Shaikh Mobarak’s support
of Bin Saud. ^
Owing to Shaikh Jasira-bin-Thani’s exorbitant demands, the A1 Bu
Ainain (an offshoot of the Bani Khalid) deserted Wakra in Katr and settled
at Kasr-es-Sabaih which is claimed to be within Shaikh Mobarak’s territory.
Their Shaikh is said to have paid Muhammad-bin-Hithlain R300 for Ajman