Page 593 - PERSIAN 2C 1890_1899_Neat

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RESIDENCY AND MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1808-99.
It iB reported that the uncle of the Sheikh of Shargah has given a long
loaso of some oxide mines to Daji Ali Dubasli, also known as Nakhoda All,
who is a resident of Bushire, whero he got into trouble and had to leave. He
is said to have already exported 400 tons of oxide, aDd a further enquiry into
the concession will be mado when an opportunity offers.

4.—BAHREIN.

8bcikh Isa has continued to be ruler and has enjoyed good health. I
visitied the place towards the closo of the past financial year and took the oppor­
tunity to visit some remarkable mounds at a place called AJi about seven
miles from Menamah, the chief town on the large island. There are ap­
parently some hundreds of these mounds, of which a few have been partially
explored. They are supposed to be pro-historic and to date back to early
Phoenician times. I have not been able, however, to obtain much inform­
ation regarding them, and an organised scientific examination might give in­
teresting results.
5.—NEJD.
Abdul Aziz, a nephew of Mahomed bin Rasbeed, the Amir of Jabal
Shammar, succeeded his uncle at the end of 1897. It was stated that the son3
of the late Sheikh of Koweit had enlisted the Shammar Sheikh on their side,
and that he intended making a descent on Koweit with the object of ousting
Sheikh Mobarek. In January last, Abdul Aziz was reported to be within
three marches of Koweit itself, and his movements were watched with some
anxiety by the people of the place. He appears, however, to have become
iuvolv’ed in hostilities with some of the Bedouin tribes of that part of Arabia,
and to have come to some understanding with Sheikh Mobarek, the latest
accounts being that he is returning towards Nejd.

6.—KOWEIT.
Sheikh Mobarek has continued to be the ruler during the year under
report. When I went to Koweit in January last, I had an interview with him
at his house, aud found him to be a venerable looking Arab Sheikh, of, I
should say, between 55 and 60 years of age. It would, I think, be an advan­
tage if the British India ^ steamers could visit Koweit, as the trade of the
place has now to be carried to Moiiammerah and there re-shipped. The
town is fairly clean, aud as it is the chief outlet for the trade of that portion
of Arabia, it may become a flourishing place in the future.

7.—PERSIAN ARABISTAN.

Prom Koweit I proceeded up the Shat-el-Arab to Moharamerah, and had
two interviews with Sheikh Kbazal, brother of the late Sheikh Mizal, whose
death was referred to in last year’s report. The present Sheikh received the
title of Muez-cs-Sultaneh from the Persian Government in April 1898, and
he appears to have governed his district, on the whole, in an able manner, and
has earned the good opinion of British firms trading to Mohammerah, who say
that their interests are better looked after now thau they were in the days of
his brother, Sheikh Mizal. The Sheikh has been engaged, during the year
in various expeditions against Arab tribes within bis jurisdiction,0 the most
important of which was that agaiust the Bawi tribe of Nasri, whose insurrec­
tion at one time gave rise to some uneasiness. Sirdar Akrem continued to be
Governor-General of Persian Arabistan throughout the year, hut has since
been relieved by Ain-ed-Dowleh.
v..i A occurred at Bizful early in the year, when several persons were
Allied. 1 he residents of one of the quarters of the town attacked the Deputy
“ de,“‘ “10 *“•