Page 589 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1010. 93
and looted of all he possessed, himself barely escaping with his life. The
proceeds of this raid by Mubarak’s men fetched $4,000 at an auction in
Kuwait.
Ajman Tribe.—In April, the news of the murder of the Chief Shaikh
of the Ajman, Muhammad-bin-Hithlain reached Kuwait. He was shot in
revenge by a woman, whose father, Shabib-bin-Hithlain, Muhammad had
himself killed some four years before. The incident is almost without pre­
cedent among the Bedouin, and the necessary blood-money was arranged
through Shaikh Mubarak.
Soon after this event a compromise was arranged by Shaikh Mubarak
for the' Shaikhship of the Ajman. Fahad, elder brother of the murdered
Muhammad-bin-Hithlain, becoming the titular Shaikh with Thaidan-al-Hith-
lain as his wazir and executive representative. All matters of importance
were to be decided by a triumvirate of the Hithlain family consisting of the
above two and Badah-bin-Asgah-al-Hithlain. The arrangement, as might
have been anticipated, has resolved itself into Fahad taking his ease, while
young Thaidan practically controls the tribe as he wishes.
Al-bu-Ainain.—In last year’s report the settlement of the Al-bu-
Ainain tribe at Qasar-as-Subaih was noted. The headmen came to Kuwait,
in March, to seek Shaikh Mubarak's support. He treated them with the usual
Arab hospitality and sent them away with presents, telling them that he had
no objection to their settlement provided it did not lead to future trouble.
Mubarak claims the ground to be within his territory and the reported visits
of Turkish soldiers from Qatif or A1 Hasa to the spot do net meet with his
approval.
The Al-bu-Ainain are reported to have built houses and some kind of
fort during the year. They have lived peaceably and visited the pearl banks.
Mvbarak-Sadun Cam'paian.—The most important , matter during
the year has been the defeat of Mubarak’s and Bin Sand’s combined forces by
Shaikh Sadun of the Mimtafik assisted by the Thaffir. The genesis of the
affair was an unprovoked raid by some Thaffir’tribesmen on a small caravan
of sheep in the vicinity of Al Hafar, belonging to a Najdi merchant of
Kuwait.
This incident was aggravated by another raid, of Thaffir and Munta­
fik combined, on the camels of some Kuwait Araibdar in A1 Batin. Mubarak
wrote to the offending chiefs to make restitution of the looted property in
accordance with Bedouin desert law, for up to this time there was peace be­
tween Bin Subah and the Thaffir and Muntafik tribes.
It happened that at the time Mubarak was collecting a force to punish
the Ajman for their raids on Kuwait property during 1909. This expedition
however was rendered unnecessary by the fact that all the Ajman Shaikhs,
under pressure from Bin Saud, came in and offered their services to Mubarak.
In response to Mubarak’s letters Sadun returned a number of the
looted camels, but refused to send in two of the Thaffir Shaikhs or to induce
them to return the Sooted sheep and camels aDd. though Mubarak pointed out
that he had no ouar^l with Sadun, the latter espoused the Tbaffir cause.
With Bin Saod present in Kuwait and a large force ready the opportunity
was too good to he lost, and the combined forces, under Bin* Baud and Shaikh
Jabir, MubaraVs sen then marched against the Thaffir and Sadun. They
met, in the middle of March, at a spot" near Ar-Rakhaimiva and from what
subsequently became known the Bin Subah contingent seems to have fled at
once; Bin Saud trying to save the day made a running rear-guard fi^ht of it,
but the result was a deplorable loss of at least 2.000 camels and 2,(K)0 rifles
whilst all the prisoners were stripped of their clothes and other belongings’
i the ne'v.s was as disheartening as it was unexpected, Shaikh Mubarak

and maintain them pending further orders.1 In consequence th™e ^