Page 61 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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(f.) Turkey and Koweit.
Turkey.
Ujair, in the district of El Katif, is the most
southerly point to which, with the important
exception of Koweit, His Majesty’s Government
have recognized continuous Turkish influence.
This influence was confirmed by the expedition
to Ncjd in 1871, with the result that the Turks
have remained established at El Katif and in the
El ITasa district ever since.
The administration is disorderly and, owing
to the half-hearted co-oporation of the local
authorities, British naval officers have been
repeatedly thwarted in their attempts to capture
pirates, with whom this district is a favourite
resort.
The Arabian coast north of Katif, all the way
to Koweit Bay, is without a single large settle­
ment. Mostly barren and in the hands of the
predatory and warlike tribe of Bni Hajar, it is
very uninteresting and entirely unproductive.
North of Koweit, Turkish territory extends to
the western shore of the Island of El Khizo,
and includes Kao, where there is a British
telegraph office, on the Kiver Shat-el-Arab.
Much correspondence took place between 1887
and 1897 respecting the creation of fortified
works at Pao, and Her Majesty’s Government
energetically opposed these works. A full state­
ment on the subject is contained in an India
Office Memorandum dated the 21st June, 1897.
Foreign Office, Captain Smyth, who was sent on a special
Library No. 8799,
ConGdential. mission to the Persian Gulf in 1904, reported as
follows:—
“ Eao is not a fort in any sense of the word ;
there are no fortifications and no guns.”
Piracy on the Shat-cl-Arab lias formed a con­
tinual source of anxiety to the British authorities
charged with the security of life aud property
on the Persian Gulf.

Koweit.
Colonel Pelly’a The family of the present Sheikh have ruled
Report of April at Koweit for above 300 years. Originally the
1863.
Sheikh's progenitors dwelt in a small fort, called
Moomgussur, situated at the head of the Khor