Page 486 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

76 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF TIIE PERSIAN GULF
protection and to contemplate visiting Kuwait in the near future to obtain
Shaikh Mobarak’s formal permission to their new settlement. They are also
reported to have approached the Turkish authorities in Basrah and Katif to
secure them from molestation by Bedouins.
The notable events of the year were three marriages in the family, cele­
brated during June between the follow­
Shaikh Mobarak's Affairs.
ing :—On the 17th, Shaikh Salman-bin-
Hamid-bin-Subah and a daughter of Shaikh Subak-bin-Muhamraad-&in-
Subah; on the 18th, Shaikh Abdulla-bin-Subah-biu-Muhammad-bin-Subah
and a daughter of Shaikh Saud-bin-Muhammad-bin-SubaK; and on the 19th,
between Shaikh Ahmed-bin-Jabir-bin-Mobarak and his first cousin, a
daughter of Shaikh Salim-bin-Mobarak.
These marriages being between close relatives should do much to further
unite the Subah family and prevent internal strife.
The Shaikh s' relations with the Political Agent have been uniformly
very friendly, though it is doubtful
Shaikh's relations with the Political Agent.
whether the Shaikh ever unreservedly
gives the latter his confidence.
Early in January a portrait of His Majesty Edward VII was formally
presented to the Shaikh. The event was made the occasion for a goodly
gathering of the leading men in Kuwait at which Major Knox briefly remark­
ed upon the great friendship so long existing between the British Government
and the Shaikh of Kuwait; and that, in token of that friendship, the King-
Emperor had been pleased to send his friend Mobarak-us-Subah his portrait.
The portrait, a large one in oils by Mr. Marchetti, which had been fixed in a
prominent position in the Shaikh’s large new reception-room, and covered
with a Union Jack, was then unveiled. Shaikh Mobarak was greatly pleased
with the gift and took much personal interest in the arrangements.
Two saluting guns, presented to the Shaikh by the Government of India,
arrived in the end of September. One ot
Gift of saluting guns.
these, a Q. F., 3-pr. Hotchkiss, has been
mounted in his steam yacht and the other, a brass 6-pr. muzzle-loader, has been
placed in front of the Shaikh’s palace.
In January the Shaikh asked for a loan of 2 lakhs, which Government
were pleased to grant. The Shaikh
Loan to Shaikh.
accepted the conditions and repaid the
first instalment in October, the next and final moiety being repayable in 1910.
Government were pleased during the year to raise the Shaikh’s personal
•salute to 12 guns and to grant a salute of
Shaikh’s salute.
5 guns to his eldest son.
In recognition of thee and other favours, Shaikh Mobarak kindly
offered rent-free the Agency premises for which R60 a month has hitherto
been paid, and Government were pleased to accept the overture.
It is regrettable that the Shaikh still prefers not to utilize the services
of the Agency Assistant Surgeon in cases of illness in his own family. At
the beginning of Ramzan be was seriously ill himself and lately his favourite
son, Ilaraed, has been suffering from small-pox, but in neither case has he
asked for assistance.
It seems hardly creditable that he should entertain suspicion of our
motives to the extent of fearing medical aid from the Agency, yet for a man
of Shaikh Mobarak’s intelligence his prejudice appears inexplicable in any
other way.
Shaikh Mobarak has been friendly with Ottoman officials and during
the year has not complained specifically
Relations with Turkish authorities.
of their treatment of him or his pro­
perties.
He informed the Political Agent that H. E. the Wali of Basrah bad, at
the time of the elections to the new Turkish Parliament, written urging him
to send a representative from Kuwait, but that he had not complied.