'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Koweit [Kuwait] Affairs, 1896-1904' [‎3] (20/132)

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The inhaHtants, Jews included, pnjoy complete religious toleration. No taxes or duties are
levied. Those who can afford it, make the Chief Sheikh an annual present. There seems in
deed to be little Government interference of any kind, :ind little reed for any.
The Kowf-its have a considerable carrying trade, and are perhaps the best boat builders
round the Gulf.
20. There is a tradition at Koweit that an artificial canal once passed from the Euphra
tes down through the littoral district of Adau towards Katif. I could not find that there were
any traces of this canal at the present day, but on a former occasion having sailed to the head
of the Zobair creek, to a, point al>out 10 ndlos distant from Bnsrah, I found there was a smull
C !»noe channel which connected that creek with the Basrah rivers ; and I mav mention in this
place that it seemed to me that the Khore Ahdniiah leading up in io the Zoh air creek wight
possibly hereafter be preferred by sea-going steamers to the present channels leading up to
Busrah. The entrance of Khore Abdullah is wide and sufficiently deep. I anchored at the
head of the Zobair creek, close alongside the b:ink, in four fathoms of water. From the head
of the Zohair creek, a railway might retch the Mediterranean a direct line of some 800
miles. The Arabs assuud me that ithere were two direct lines to the westward of the
Euphrates, one passing mainly through the desert, and the other touching at townships. It is
possible that these lines may be surveyed some day."
7. The portions of Colonel Felly's reports italicized especially those regarding
Klior/ Abdullah are 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 Hallway 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 Colonel Felly's references to Khor Abdullah.
&. In April 1866—the British Agent at Basrah (Mr. W. P. Johnstoce)
or - it . 1 „ addressed the following letter (No. 27,
STieiTch of Koweit \&rs.\is Zeneyr jamtly of Zooeyr. i j 1 1 *1 i j •
Intrigues of Turks against Koweit, 1866. dated ditll April louo), about a Ca^e in
which the Chief of Koweit was involved with the Turkish authorities, and the
details of which throw some side light on his position in relation to the Turks :~
" I have the honour to lay before you a few particulars of a case about which you will,
doubtless, hear more anon.
The Kaim Mukamwrote to Sheikh Suhah of Koweit, some months ago, to expel from his
lands a,t Fao all the Fellahs Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. who had immigrated from Persian territory, and cnlled upon him to
give up possession of an island outlying Duasir, called Saliyeh, which has been for 30 years in
possession of the Subah family, but now clidmcd by the Zeheyrs.
Sheikh Subah wrote in reply that it was then winter and very cold, but when the weather
moderated, he would send his son, Abdullah, to Bussorah,
The Kaim Mukam them took possession of the island of Safiyeh, placed a certain Moola
Enim in charge of it, and dismissed Sheik Subah's cultivators.
When 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 the island question was mooted.
Abdullah-es-Subah arrived here about a month back, and waited patiently for the Kaim
Mukam's return. It was the day after Suliman Beg's arrival that Abdoollah went to the
serai and after some parley, in which he declared that his father, Subah, had not authorized
him to take any steps in the land question, but only to learn and execute the Kaim Mukam's
wishes with regard to the Fellahs Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. at Fao, h^ was peremptorily ordered to pav over to the
Zeheyr family the equivalent of all that had been received from the island in question for the
last seven vears^ v'Z-, since Sheikh Jabe^es-Subah's death, on the plea that he had reeeived 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 over on his return to Koweit, the Kathi and Mufti, who were
conveniently present, were appealed to, and ruled that the actual recipient of the produce,
whether in the character Principal or Agent, was responsible to the owner of the land for all the
receipts. The Tifeckchibashi was thereupon ordered to take charge of Abdullah.es-Subalr's
person until the Zeheyrs' claims for seven year' revenue of the island were satisfied. Salem
ibn Beder an influential merchant of this place and a native of Koweit, then offered to stand
security for Abdullah's person, by which he escaped the indignity of bein* thrown into jail.
He was ordered, however,to write at once to Sheikh Subah for powers to represent him in the
suit, and has been allow d 15 days either to commence proceedings or to satisfy the demands
of the Zeheyrs.
Abdullab -es -Subah told me that his father had especially instructed him nnt to consent
to have the case tried in Bussorah, as he considered it had been prejudged by the Kaim Mukam