Page 127 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920
P. 127

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
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