Page 276 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

134 PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT

ooncerncd, for no further cases of attempts to smuggle arms have been reported
during tho year undor review.
In January a complaint was made to Shaikh Mubarak by a Nakhuda of «
boat belonging to tho Marafi houso that she was stopped by a British rnan-0f.
war near Charak, though loaded with dates and bound from the Shatt-ol-Arab
to Oman. The caso was enquired into and, as tho complaint appeared to have
been grossly exaggerated, the facts wero explained to tho Shaikh and the matter
dropped.
In April tho Political Agent heard in the desert that a large proportion of
tho arms seized at Shargah in September 1912 by the Residency Agent belonged
really to Abdul Aziz “ Bin Saud ” and certain ncw3 of tho fate of the Arabs
captured with them only reached Nejd about the end of February 1913. Bin
Saud discussed the incident with tho Political Agent who submitted his repre­
sentations on the subject to tho Political Resident. In view of the political
changes caused by Bin Saud’s ejectment of tho Turkish troops from, the Hasa
province it was decided to he inopportune to move in the matter.
Head Constable Mir Aslam arrived from Bushire on the 25th July in
charge of Mahdu, a notorious Kuwaiti arms smuggler, who hal been deported
from Maskat by orders of His Highness the Sultan. The prisoner was handed
over to the Shaikh who, after subjecting him to a severe flogging, sentenced him
to a fine of Rl,500 with 3 months’ imprisonment in double irons.
During 1913 only one application was received from a local slave for the
su oTr»de. manumission of his wife, daughter and
3 r Jas himself. The case was represented to the
Ruler of Kuwait who, after enquiry, took the-whole family into his own service,
the negro to work in the Customs and liis wife in the harem. He also undertook
that, should the negro at any time desire to leave bis service, he would be given
his freedom forthwith.
"Work on the Kuwait pearling fleet was commenced in April but, owing
to the large stocks of last season’s pearls
Pcirl Fisheries.
still lying unrealized in Bombay, money
for advances was scarce and these were, this season, limited to R70 and R50 to
each diver and puller. The whole fleet left for the banks in the first fortnight
of May and returned in the first week of August for the Ramzan Id. It
again left for the banks in the first week of September and returned in the
second -week of October. The season was reported to be a poor one in the take
of pearls and a bad one for prices and consequently where divers received
advances of R700 after last year’s season they were lucky to get R200 this
year. One result has been that the Hejdi diving fraternity is said to be con­
templating giving up diving and joining Bin Saud in his raiding expeditions
against tho tribes as likely to be more profitable.
The 4 pirates referrod to in last year’s report were brought to Kuwait
in H. M. S. “ Philomel ” on the 11th
r'vftcics.
January. The murderers were handed
over to Shaikh Mubarak for safe custody and the Political Agent held an
enquiry in the matter. The crime being proved f he suggested that sanction
might be accorded to their execution oy rifle shot. On the receipt of the
orders of Government the Shaikh was informed of their acquiescence but, as
the murderers were the subjects of the Shaikh of Mohammerah, Shaikh
Mubarak decided with his consent to imprison them for life. One of the
pirates named Kadhair Bin Marzuq died in prison on the 20th March, and
two others later in the year.
Another piracy was committed this year by the Somali crew of a Kuwait
Towash’s “ballara” while she was on her way back to Kuwait from Bahrain-
The Towash and owner of the “ ballam,” Saif bin Zaid with his cousin, Yus11*
bin Husain bin Ali, and a Baghdadi cook were returning to Kuwait after
soiling bis pearls in Bahrain. On tho night of the 22nd July when cast 01
Kasr-ns-Sut>aih one of the four Somalis shot and wounded Saif. His cousid»
Yusuf bin Husain bin *Ali, startled from his sleep, made an effort to grappj®
with the assailant but, in the scuffle which ensuod, he and Saif bin
wore thrown overboard. Tho “ ballam11 then altered her course for the P*rat