Page 713 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

m ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF

Tho matter has been represented to Government and it is hoped that
6teps towards the institution of a Post Office to meet the growing needs of
the port may soon be taken.
Celebrations.—The 22nd June being the Coronation day of His Majesty
the King-Emperor, was observed as a fete day, the Shaikh’s and the Agency
flagstaffs were dressed, alms in cash were distributed to over 1,300 poor and
in the evening the Agency was illuminated. Shaikh Mubarak with his son
Hamed, dined with the Political Agent, and subsequently the other relatives
of the Shaikh with all the leading men in Kuwait attended a reception held
at the Agency.
7. Owing to the absence of the Political Agent on leave no Coronation
Durbar festivities were held at Kuwait, on 12th December 1011. The Shaikh
who was at Mohamraerah at the time, however, sent orders to his son, Shaikh
Jabir, to have his flagstaff dressed and to illuminate the town.
Bin Savd's Visit.—Abdul Aziz bin Abdur Rahman “bin Saud,” the
Amir of Nejd, visited the Shaikh at Sirra on 11th April 1911. The Shaikh
accorded him a hearty welcome and loaded him with presents in food, clothes,
etc., for his men. “ Bin Sand ” arrived in Kuwait two days later with a
large mounted following and returned to Sirra on the 15th; he was accom­
panied by his brothers, Muhammad and Saad. Visits were exchanged with
the Political Agint by the whole family, who appeared cordially pleased to
renew their former acquaintance.
Shaikhs fron Hail.—Shaikhs Faisal-bin-Hamed and Shaikh Thari of
the Al-Obeid ar-Rashid family left Kuwait in September and set out with
a view to conducting intrigues from the north with the Thaffir and Anezah
tribes against the Ruler of Kail. Subsequently, Ending little encouragement
and being without resources, they have, it is said, gone to Riadh, where they
appear to be living on the bounty of “ Bin Saud.”
Bedouin Sheikhs' Visits.—Shaikhs of the Ajman, Thaffir, Umtair have
visited Kuwait ct various times during the year and most of them called on
the Political Agent, who is now personally known to probably all the import­
ant Shaikhs of these three tribes. During his tcur and meeting with Bin
Saud the Political Agent also made the acquaintance of several of the Shaikhs
of the more southern tribes, the Kahtan, Dawasir, Saba’i, Sckul and Bani
KhalicL
On the whole there has been peace, law and order throughout Neid
during the year under review and the
Nejd Affair*.
caravan routes were safe and passable
during the whole period.
In September 1911 it wa3 reported, however, that differences had arisen
at Hail between the members of the Ibn Sebhan family. Zarail Ibn Sebhan,
the guardian of the young Saud Ibn Rashid, was said to be true to the young
prince, whilst hrn cousin, the Treasurer of the State, wished to oust the boy
and usurp the power for the Ibn Sebhan family; the wish has not apparently
materialized.
In May 1911, one Muhammad bin Abdulla-bin-Thaneyan visited Shaikh
Mubarak. He was a youth of about 18 years whose arrival created some
interest as he represents the house of one of the former Wahabi Amirs and
is a distant cousin of Abdul Aziz-bin-Saud. His father bad been held as a
hostage in Constantinople and Muhammad was born there. He was reported
to be well educated, to Bpeak several languages and to have been offered the
Mutasarifiik of Hasa by the Turkish Government which he refused pending
a consultation with Abdul Aziz-bin-Saud. It was also said that he contem*
plated obtaining Abdul Aziz's permission to repi resent Riadh in the Turkish
Parliament. He left Kuwait for Nejd shortly after and returned in the
autumn, going back to Basrah.
Ibn Rashid's Raids.—The Hataim, Rowala and Anizab tribes were
raided by Ibn Rashid in May to the west of Hall, with indefinite results.
The Ruler of Hail is still without much power, and has not been able to
eject the Rowala Anizah tribe from Jaf. His truce with " Bin Saud ”