Page 79 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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Tho inhabitants, Jews includod, enjoy complete religious toleration. No taxes or duties are
lovied. Theso who can afford it, make tho Chief Sheikh an annual present. Thero seems in­
deed to ho little Government interference of any kind, «>nd little need for any.
The Koweits have a considorablo carrying trado, aud aro perhaps the best boat builders
round tho Gulf.
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20. Thero is atrodition at Kowcit that an artificial canal once passed from the Euphra­
tes down through tho littoral district of Adau towards Katif. I cquld not find that there were
any traces of this canal at tho present day, but on a former occasion having sailed lo tho head
of the Zobair creek, to a point about 10 miles distant from Busrali, I found there was a small
ennoe channel wbioh connected that crock with the Basrah rivers j and I may mention in this
placo that it seemed to me that tho Khorc Abdullah leading up in 1o the Zobair creek might
possibly hereafter bo preferred by sea-going steamers to the present channels leading up to
Busrah. The entrance of Khorc Abdullah is wide and sufficicrtly deep. I anchored at tho
head of the Zobair creek, close alongside tho bank, in four fathoms of water. From the head
of the Zobair creek, a railway might reach the Mediterranean ii a direct I'ne of *ome 600
mile*. The Arabs assured me that Ithnrc wore two direct lines to (he westward of the
Euphrates, one passing mainly through tho desert, and the other touching at townships. It is
possible that these lines may be surveyed somo day.'1
7. Tlio portions of Colonel Polly’s reports italicized especially tlioso regarding
Khore Abdullah aro of peculiar interest in these days. That Colonel Pelly regard­
ed the head of the Khor Abdullah as an alternative terminus to Koweit
of a Railway from the Mediterranean—was apparently overlooked when the
British Government secured a control over Koweit and our officers stopped
there without looking beyond the horizon of Koweit. The Germans had evi­
dently made a more careful note of Colouel Pelly’s references to Khor Abdullah.
8. In April 1866—the British Agent at Basrah (Mr. W. P. Johnstone)
addressed the following letter (No. 27,
Sheikh of Koweit Torsa* Zeheyr family of Zoltyr.
Intriguet of Turku againtt Koweit, 1566. dated 4th April 1866), about a case in
which the Chief of Koweit was involved with the Turkish authorities, and the
details of which throw some side light on his position iu relation to the Turks:—
“ I have tho honour to lay* before you a few particulars of a case about which you will,
doubtless, hear more anon.
Tho Kaim Mukamwroto to Sheikh Suhah of Koweit, some months ago, to expel from his
lands at Foo all the Fellahs who ha 1 immigrated fiom Persian territory, and culled upon him to
give up possession of an island outlying Duasir, called Safiych, which has been for 30 years in
possession of the Subah family, but now claimed by tho Zehcyrs.
Sheikh Subah wrote in reply that it was then winter and very cold, but when the weather
moderated, ho would Ecud his son, Abdullah, to Bussorah.
The Kaim Mukara them took possession of the island of Safiyeh, placed a certain Moola
Enim in charge of it, and dismissed Sheik Subah’s cultivators.
Whon I saw Sheikh Subah at Koweit a fortnight ago, he told me he had sent his son,
Abdullah, to Bussorah, and that he would go to Baghdad if tho island question was mooted.
Abdullah-cs-Subah arrived here about a mouth back, and waited patiently for the Kaim
Mukara’s return. It was the day after Suliman Bcg’6 arrival that Abdoollah went to tho
eerai, and after somo parley, in which lie declared that his father, Subah, had not authorized
liim'to take any steps in the land question, hut only to learn and execute the Kaim Mukam's
wishes with regard to the Fellahs at Fao, he was peremptorily ordered to pav over to the
Zehcyr family the equivalent of all that had been received from the island in question for the
last seven years, v>t., since Sheikh Jabcr-cs-Subah’s dc^th, on the plea that he had received the
produce. On his stating that he had received it only in his capacity of Agent for his father,
to whom he regularly handed it oyer on his return to Koweit, the Kathi and Mufti, who were
conveniently present, were appealed to, and ruled that tho actual recipient of the produce,
whether in tho character Principal or Agent, was responsible to the owner of the land for all tho
receipts. • The Tifeckchibashi was thereupon ordered to take chargo of Abdullah-cs-Subah's
person until the Zeheyrs’ claims for seven year’ revenue of the island were satisfied. Salem
ibn Beder, an influential merohaot of this placo and a nativo of Koweit, then offered to stand
security for Abdullah’s person, by which he escaped the indignity of being thrown into jail.
He was ordored, however,to writo at once to Shoikh Subah for powers to represent him in the
suit, and has been allowed 15 days either to commonce proceedings or to satisfy the demands
of tho Zeheyrs.
Abdullah-es-Subah told mo that his father had especially instructed him not to consent
to havo tho case tried in Bussorah, os ho considered it had been prejudged by the Kaim Mukam