Page 593 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1910. 97
the 301 Gras weapons confiscated from Abdullali-bin-Muhammad-al-Atiji but
without Buccess. He left for Maskat, on the 30th June, taking with him
Rs. 15,000 realized from his debtors. While Mons. Elbaz was in Kuwait a
Kuwait buggalow returned from India via Maskat. There were rumours in
the bazaar that this vessel had brought 3,000 rifles and ammunition from
Goguyer’s firm and had landed them during the night far away from the Cus­
toms house. The Shaikh denied the rumour and other enquiries failed to
substantiate it.
In October, Muhammad Dadallah, a Persian firearms dealer of Kuwait,
tried to smuggle 21 Mauser rifles by a mail steamer. The rifles were handed
_.;r to Muhammad Dadallah’s servant at Maskat by Mons. Nichan, and were
over
being brought over per S. S. “ Goalpara.” The package containing the rifjes
was suspected by the ship’s officers and, as enquiries failed to produce an
owner, it was handed over to His Britannic Majesty’s Consul at Bandar
Abbas.
Towards the close of the year a report reached Kuwait that a caravan,
which was conveying 400 rifles from Qatar for Bin Saud, had been waylaid
and looted by A1 Morrah Bedouins in Hassa, these being arms landed at
either Doha or Wakra by Goguyei's firm.
After the defeat of his force, in March, Shaikh Mubarak prohibited the
sale of firearms to foreigners and himself bought up a large number of rifles
and ammunition.
The Shaikh has been permitted to import a certain number of arms
aod ammunition from Maskat for his own use, and these represent almost the
whole import for the year.
It is interesting to note that several shops, opened during 1909, have dis­
appeared during 1910. Practically no arms are sold in the bazaar now. The
stoppage of arms is, no doubt, a great loss to the Shaikh who used to exact $6
per rifle as Customs duty. Some of the boats built this year are said to have
secret contrivances for hiding arms.
Only one application was received during the year for manumission,
from a slave girl, who, however, was taken
Slave Trade.
back and reconciled to her master.
The treatment of slaves in Kuwait seems to have improved as no other
complaints have reached the Agency, as in former years, and only occasionally
are slaves sold in the bazaar. This occurs when one has so far exasperated
his master by misconduct or laziness that the owner finds him a burden.
The Kuwait pearling fleet was a month late in setting out as Shaikh
Mubarak had stopped all work on the
Pearl Fisheries.
boats and impressed all Nakhudas and
divers for his raid against the Muntafik. To try and effect a revision of this
drastic order some 8 leading Towashes went to see the Shaikh at Sirra, but
without any other result than to make the Shaikh still severer. This op'pres-
sion led to many quiet enquiries whether British protection would be extended
to Kuwait people. The Shaikh evidently heard of this and at once caused all
Kuwait houses to be labelled with his seal. It was reported that his object
was to seize the houses, but more probably it was merely for the purpose of a
census.
In May, the pearlers were permitted to return to work, their places in the
raiding force being taken by hired men.
Towards the end of the fishing season, in August, news reached Kuwait
that most of the Towashes and nakhusa with their divers, had agreed to
emigrate to Bahrain without returning to Kuwait. The appearance of the
Agency launch “ Lewis Pelly ” on the banks at this time caused a panic and
the scheme fell through. The Political Agent himself had not heard of the
resolution at the time. Only three of the richest pearl Towashes with a few
of their boats and followers had actually reached Bali rain, the rest awaiting
aeveiopments at Jazirat-al-Arnayir where the Political Agent found them!
Ane ohaikh was much concerned at the step taken by his pearlers, and at once