ملف رقم ٦١٩ لسنة ١٩٠٧، الجزء ٣، "الاتجار بالأسلحة:- التجارة في الكويت." [و‎‎١‎٦‎٩] (٧٢٠/٣٤٢)

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the arms trade m its present state. We are of opinion that he is far too j^ood
a business man to take any chance of this sort. A.s to Captain Cranford’s com
plaint that Nassib will now have agents on the Mekran coast who will carrv
all sorts of undesirable information from one coast to another, I would be<> to
p >mt out thru he has had agents across the water ever since he has hekTthe
Maskit provision agreement. Tiiese men have been emploved by him in
Oman” S ^ ee ^ an( * ca ^ e » farmer animals being impossible to obtain in
ro Perseus ^arrived at Maskat from Aden on the 4th May.
On the 5th May I arrived at Maskat to coal and received your telesrraui
mtorramg me that sailing orders would arrive by mail on the 9th instant
and that, it convenient, I should meet the mail steamer. Under these circum
stances, as nothing of importance was taking place and the time available after
coaling was barely sufficient for me to get over to the Biyaban coast and
return, I decided to wait at Maskat until the 9th instant.
17. On the 7th May the sad news of the death of His Majesty Kin^
Edward VII was received through Jask. The “Philomel” and Consulate
immediately half masted colours and His Highness the Sultan followed suit at
his palace and on board his yacht.
18. The Mail arrived at 8 a.m. on Monday the 9th May, bringing my
sailing orders. I waited in harbour until I had fired the Royal Salute in honour
of tne proclamation of His Majesty King George V and I then proceeded to
pick up my boats and visit Jask for the purpose of conferring with Captain
Oraufurd on the subject of the provision agreement and the suitability of Nassib
Bin Muhammad to hold it. Captain Craufurd now agrees that no harm is likely
to come through any action taken by Nassib, but at the same time desires rne
to p >int oM to you that if at any time he is proved to have circulated inform
at.on to our detriment his agreement should be terminated at once.
19. The Collier “Tangistan” arrived at Jask at noon on the 10th instant.
I sent her to unload 2,000 tons at Maskat with orders to then return to
Jask by which time ships will be again empty and ready to coal from her.
Tue “ Sheikh”, “ Panther” and “ Tamil” also arrived at Jask on the 10th, the
latter with her feed pump broken down.
20. All fishermen met with off Bunji Mabarak and the neighbourhood
have informed my boats that 100 Afghans under Jan Muhammad had sacked
and burnt half the village. Some stories say some of the natives were killed
and others that they were most severely beaten. The whole stretch of coast
in that district is now quite deserted, all the natives having left for places
where their property is more secure.
21. Captain Craufurd informs me that he has Information that a party of
Afghans are coming from Sarzhai down to Hillari Gut, a precipitous mountain
with a good water-supply, about 12 miles north of Gangan and that their
intention is to hold the place and raid the surrounding country, they have
with them Dadulla and Abdulla Dervish two of Barkat’s most active advisers.
22. I turned over the Senior Naval Oficer’s Box on the 11th May to
Commander H. J. T. Marshall, H.M.S. “ Proserpine” giving him all necessary
information in writing. A copy ef this document I have also kept to turn
over to Captain Hunt at Bombay. In accordance with orders received from
Commanding Officer “Eox” in November last, I have also turned over to
Commander Marshall copy No. 64 of Indian Army Cipner “ G ”.
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