Page 127 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

FOR THE TEAR 191t 117
Information was brought in March by an A] man Shaikh that the Mutas*
•r of Hasa had visited the Kasr-as-Sabaih settlement some two months before
U o number of Turkish soldiers and that he had left a “ Chaush ” (sergeant)
4« soldiers in Kasr-as-Sabaih. At various times 8haikh Mubarak has
^ lied to the A1 bu Ainain’s overtures for his protection that they must give
n coquetting with the Turks before he will assist them. They have now
definitely placed thwnselTCB under the Turkish flag and Muharak consequently
fisfl vashc
In July the Shaikh contemplated sending his yacht to Bombay for Over­
haul. It appears that though carefully
Shaikh Mubarak’* Affair*.
painted outside, it has never occurred
to any °ne that the yacht’s bilges inside would require attention. Consequently
jjcr bottom plates and frames are so badly corroded that the lightest blow from
0 hammer makes a hole. The yacht however has not yet undergone any
of the necessary repairs.
It is satisfactory to record that Shaikh Salim, Shaikh Mubarak’s second son,
has taken up his residence in Kuwait. He formerly resided at Funtas and
only occasionally visited Kuwait, there being a long estrangement between him
and his father. The reconciliation was due to Shaikh Khazal’s good offices.
A British Indian who has recently been installing electric lighting at
Ifaskat and Mohamraerah named N. S. Bayankar after an inspection visit to
the Shaikh’s palace, on the|14th October, secured a contract at the end of Octo­
ber to light the Shaikh’s palace with electricity. Shaikh Mubarak told fcho
Political Agent that the contract was for Rs. 7,000 to supply an oil-engine,
dynamo and 400 lamps.
The Shaikh’s position financially appears to have improved materially
during the last 2 or 3 years. He is showing a commendable public spirit in
taking up various useful projects for the benefit and improvement of his town,
and people. A water-tank steamer of 300 tons capacity, costing about £7,000,
is shortly expected to arrive from England which the Shaikh has ordered for
the purpose of bringing water from the Shatt-el-Arab. Realizing that even this
measure will not suffice to obviate periodical water-famines, he submitted his
request for Government help in furnishing the town with an adequate and
complete water supply system, as noted elsewhere.
Shaikh Mubarak has been making further large purchases of date-gardens
on the Shatt-el-Arab. Details are not at present available but he must now
own a very considerable area of land on the right bank of the river. Ho still
has difficulty in getting the land registered in his own name and therefore satis­
fies Turkish requirements by substituting the names of his women and others.
Ibis method, though it may suffice for present needs, is not unlikely to lead to
considerable trouble on his death and in the subsequent drriaon of his
property.
The Shaikh’s relations with the British Government and their Political
Agent are as friendly and harmonious as
Hobarak'i rela&u with the British
Gorcnunent. oould be desired. He has frequently, and
with friendly confidence, consulted the
Political Agent on various entirely unofficial matters connected with his own.
his people’s affairs, as an instance of which may be cited his request for
file assistance of the Government of India in the matter of providing Kuwait
^itli a water supply system. Shaikh Mubarak seems now to bare abandoned
Entirely the suspicious and obstructive attitude he was formerly occasionally
ijriined to adopt towards British interests, as for example in the ease of the
British. India Steam Navigation Company’s steamers in 1908. His rule is
^partial and makes no distinction between Arabs and Christians, and such
claims and complaints as have been referred to him by the Political Agent hare
generally been dealt with promptly and fairly.
. In September Mr. C. F. Maopherson, a partner in Messrs. Gray Paul
JCo.,] visited Kuwait to arrange for the conversion of their branch agency,
Ijttierto carried on by a clerk, into an agency under a European assistant.
Shaikh cordially agreed and Mr. D. Hart arrived at the ona of the month